June is Pride Month

Pride Month, held annually in June, celebrates the LGBTQ+ community’s history, struggles, and achievements, commemorating the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 in New York City. It embraces people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, whether LGBTQ+ or allies. Events worldwide include parades, marches, and festivals, promoting visibility, equality, and LGBTQ+ acceptance. Pride Month also highlights ongoing challenges like discrimination and violence, emphasizing the ongoing global fight for LGBTQ+ rights and equality.

Compared to their straight peers, 83% of LGBTQ+ individuals report having more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)––including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, household mental illness and substance abuse––putting them at higher risk for poor physical and mental health outcomes throughout their lifetime. Findings also indicate that LGBTQ+ youth are less likely to have positive childhood experiences (PCEs), are over-represented in the foster care system, and are more than twice as likely as their non-LGBTQ youth to report being treated poorly by the foster care system.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that gender minority high school students attempt suicide at a rate four times higher than heterosexual students and those numbers are even higher for transgender youth. Research shows that LGBTQ+ individuals are four times as likely to encounter violence than their straight counterparts, and 50% of transgender people report having been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives.

At PCA America, we are committed to ensuring all children, families, and communities live in safe, stable, nurturing environments that are equitable, inclusive, fair, and free from violence. Together, in partnership with our network and key partners, we are building an ecosystem from the ground up that is focused on primary prevention, and addressing the structural and social determinants of health, including poverty and systemic racism. We advocate for legislation, actions, and projects that are inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community, actively working to strengthen the foundations of love, safety, and support that enable all our nation’s children to thrive and succeed.

As we celebrate PRIDE Month in June, let’s work together to prevent child abuse, support those who have experienced adversity, and connect them with the support they need. We encourage you to check out our curated list of 2024 PRIDE Month resources to access information and find support:

Pride Month Resources:

  • The Human Rights Campaign is a nationwide organization dedicated to ensuring equal rights for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S.
  • The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to publications, research, and learning tools selected by experts to support thriving children, youth, families, and communities.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public’s health, providing resources and information about health and mental health for everyone, including LGBTQ+.
  • The Trevor Project was established in 1998 to provide crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ people and connect them to local resources and support. Professional suicide prevention and crisis intervention training is also offered to the community.
  • Trans Lifeline is a non-profit organization that provides a 24-hour crisis hotline and microgrants for transgender people.
  • The Point Foundation is one of the few LGBTQ+ groups that grant college scholarships to LGBTQ+ high school seniors, working to make campuses more open and accessible to everyone.
  • The National Center for Transgender Equality campaigns for transgender equality in the U.S., launching media campaigns and drafting legislation to raise public awareness.
  • GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality (HPAE) is one of the largest organizations for healthcare providers who identify as LGBTQ+ and has worked for 30 years to guarantee that both LGBTQ+ individuals and healthcare professionals receive equal access to healthcare.

Research: