Ohio’s Center for Christian Virtue called our LGBTQ+ youth crisis hotline ‘dangerous.’ Here are the (life-saving) facts.

By Lance Preston, founder & executive director, Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation, Inc.

In a recent Fox 19 News interview, Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue – a formerly designated anti-LGBTQ+ hate group – labeled Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation’s 24/7 crisis hotline as “dangerous.” He then claimed that we are an “activist organization” that disrupts family bonds by placing a “wedge” between kids and family members.

Baer’s statements require a factual response.

The Rainbow Youth Project is far from dangerous. Instead, we provide an indispensable support system and essential suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth. Since its inception in April 2022, our crisis hotline has served as a beacon of hope for over 115,000 LGBTQ+ youth, providing access to free and unlimited mental health counseling services for 8,112 young people across all 50 states.

Impact of Ohio’s HB 8

The passage of Ohio’s HB 8 – which will force teachers and school staff to out LGBTQ+ students to their parents – has significantly affected LGBTQ+ youth, leading to a marked increase in calls to crisis hotlines.

Prior to the passage of the bill, our hotline typically received about 284 calls a month from Ohio. However, following Gov. DeWine’s signing of HB 8, calls surged to 1,134 in just 9 days. This increase underscores the heightened distress and confusion among the community, with most callers being students aged 13-18.

Coming out is a deeply personal journey involving a deliberate process of self-discovery and self-acceptance. For many, each instance of coming out can be a significant milestone in embracing their identity. The decision to come out should be made by the individual, allowing them the autonomy to choose the timing, method and audience for their disclosure. When this choice is taken away – as HB 8 mandates – it can lead to a loss of control over one’s own narrative and self-identity.

Support is only one call away

The Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation is a national nonprofit organization managed and operated entirely by volunteers. It is dedicated to the health, safety and wellness of LGBTQ+ youth and offers a variety of programs including our crisis resource hotline. The hotline is manned by 139 volunteers, all of whom are graduate students in psychology or social work.

Crisis hotlines serve as a critical function in providing support to individuals in distress. LGBTQ+ youth hotlines do not aim to come between children and their parents. Instead, they offer a vital lifeline to those who feel isolated and have no one else in whom they can confide.

Far from replacing or undermining parental roles, these hotlines fill an urgent need for emotional support and guidance that may not be available at home. The primary objective of hotline staff is to provide immediate assistance and resources that can help mitigate the risk of suicide and other crises.

For many young people, reaching out to a crisis hotline is an act of desperation. They seek out these services because they feel they have exhausted all other options for support. These dedicated individuals staffing the hotline are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to offer guidance, reassurance and hope to those who feel lost and alone. This support can also serve to deescalate and stabilize callers during mental health emergencies, as well as connect youth to counseling services through partner providers nationwide at absolutely no cost to the child or family.

Forced outing is the real danger

Forced outing can expose LGBTQ+ youth to myriad risks, including emotional distress, social rejection and physical harm.

When asked about the potential for child abuse, Baer shrugged off those concerns and said that existing child abuse laws address those concerns. The reality is that while child abuse laws in Ohio and other states aim to protect young individuals, these laws often fall short for LGBTQ+ youth.

The issue of LGBTQ+ youth facing homelessness and abuse due to lack of family support is a critical concern. Statistics reveal a troubling picture: up to 40% of the approximately 1.4 million unaccompanied minors living on the streets in America identify as LGBTQ+. This disproportionality highlights the challenges these young individuals face, often stemming from family rejection. Despite existing laws, many parents are not held accountable for abandonment or neglect when they evict their minor child from the family home.

The tragic stories of Anthony Avalos and Gabriel Fernandez serve as stark reminders of the dangers faced by LGBTQ+ children. Anthony, 10, was brutally beaten and killed by his parents because he expressed an interest in boys. Similarly, Gabriel, 8, was murdered by his mother and her boyfriend due to their suspicions about his sexual orientation. These cases underscore the potential for extreme violence when children are not accepted by their families.

Prejudice and fear can lead to devastating outcomes, as illustrated by the case of Jerry Lee Seger. Believing his daughter was led astray by a same-sex relationship, he murdered her girlfriend, Courtney Bright, 24.

Standing against hate

Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation stands resolute against hate and bigotry, continually supporting LGBTQ+ youth through their darkest times. Our goal is to create a world where crisis hotlines are no longer needed, but until that vision is realized, we remain committed to providing a vital source of hope and support.

To all LGBTQ+ youth: We see you. We hear you. You are valid and perfect just as you are. We are thankful you are here and remain committed to supporting you.

To Aaron Baer and the Center for Christian Virtue: In Christianity, the seven heavenly virtues include prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude, faith, hope and charity. I firmly believe that Rainbow Youth Project’s volunteers, including myself, represent these virtues more effectively than you. 🔥

Lance Preston has made significant contributions to the fields of youth advocacy and diversity through his founding of the Rainbow Youth Project USA and the Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation. As the Executive Director of the foundation, Preston is dedicated to supporting and empowering LGBTQ+ youth. He holds both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Michigan. He currently lives in Oklahoma with his dog, Winston.

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IGNITE ACTION

If you or someone you know is in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 911. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call:

• Rainbow Youth Project: 317-643-4888 (24/7)
• Trevor Project: 866-488-7386 (24/7)
• LGBT National Youth Talkline: 800-246-7743 (Monday – Friday, 2-11pm EST, Saturday, Noon-5 pm EST)
• Trans LifeLine: 877-565-8860 (Monday – Friday, 1-9 pm EST)
• LGBT National Hotline: 888-843-4564 (Monday – Friday, 4 pm – 12 am EST, Saturday, Noon – 5 pm EST)