BE SAFE Campaign
Voices of the Desert is excited to present a new initiative to the Greater Phoenix Community called “Be Safe.”
The Goal of BE SAFE is to improve the dire statistics in the Phoenix Greater Metropolitan Community by getting those in need connected with the resources that can help them!
We do this by providing a simple logo that is applied to a sticker, magnet, clothing that includes a QR code that when accessed will provide the user with the many resources in the community that exist to help our LGBTQIA+ individuals with the issues they may be facing.
Be Safe Logo
In designing this logo we wanted to make sure that it remained neutral, so that it would not suggest anything LGBTQIA+ at first glance. Parents, friends, etc, who would see it would not automatically assume this was part of the LGBTQIA+ landscape ensuring a SAFE environment while providing access to resources handy without being “outed.”
- Music is an international language
- The notes on the staff are B, divided by an S and then A, F, E.
- The QR code directs them to a page with includes links to our LGBTQIA+ Phoenix Resources
The Need
When we reviewed the 2024 release of the Trevor Project statistics (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024/) we realized a need for us to have resources readily available. The report outlines the need as well as other dire decisions that are being made in lieu of getting help:
- 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year — including 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people. LGBTQ+ youth of color reported higher rates than White peers.
- More than 1 in 10 (12%) LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide in the past year.
- 90% of LGBTQ+ young people said their well-being was negatively impacted due to recent politics.
- 45% of transgender and nonbinary young people reported that they or their family have considered moving to a different state because of LGBTQ+-related politics and laws.
- Nearly half (49%) of LGBTQ+ young people ages 13-17 experienced bullying in the past year, and those who did reported significantly higher rates attempting suicide in the past year than those who did not experience bullying.
- LGBTQ+ young people who reported living in very accepting communities attempted suicide at less than half the rate of those who reported living in very unaccepting communities.
- 66% of LGBTQ+ young people reported experiencing recent symptoms of anxiety - including over 7 in 10 transgender and nonbinary young people (71%) and nearly 3 in 5 cisgender young people (58%).
- 53% of LGBTQ+ young people reported experiencing recent symptoms of depression - including nearly 3 in 5 transgender and nonbinary young people (59%) and more than 2 in 5 cisgender young people (44%).
- Among all LGBTQ+ young people, 84% wanted mental health care. 50% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it - including nearly half of transgender and nonbinary young people (49%) and more than half of cisgender young people (52%).
- Among transgender and nonbinary young people, 13% reported being on gender-affirming hormones, and 2% reported taking puberty blockers. 61% who were on gender-affirming hormones were somewhat or very concerned about losing access to this care.
- 23% of LGBTQ+ young people reported that they have been physically threatened or harmed in the past year due to either their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- 13% of LGBTQ+ young people reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy - including approximately 1 in 6 transgender and nonbinary young people (16%) and nearly 1 in 10 cisgender young
- LGBTQ+ young people who had access to LGBTQ+-affirming spaces, and transgender and nonbinary youth who had access to gender-affirming spaces, reported lower rates of attempting suicide compared to those who did not.
- Transgender and nonbinary young people who had access to gender-affirming clothing, gender-neutral bathrooms at school, and had their pronouns respected by the people they live with had lower rates of attempting suicide compared to those who did not.