In any context, suicide is always a very serious, but not many people know that 41% of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals have attempted suicide according to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. This is significantly larger than 4.6% of people in the U.S. who have attempted suicide in their lifetime, and still larger than the 10-20% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults who have reported attempting suicide. Transgender individuals experience higher rates of depression when in an unsupportive environment. Many transgender people are rejected by their families and are often abused or even kicked out of their homes. I think that these horrifying statistics really put into perspective our shockingly low level of acceptance of the LBGT community, especially transgender people, in society as a whole. This is something that we need to change. If someone in your family or one of your friends tells you that they are transgender, please understand that it is not a choice and support them in any way that you can because a life could be at stake.
- Derek Peterson, Biologoist
- Derek Peterson, Biologoist