If You Need Help Coming Out, Trevor Project's Handbook Is Here

Just ahead of National Coming Out Day on October 11, The Trevor Project has released a Coming Out Handbook to help LGBTQ youth safely explore their identities, and potentially share who they are with their friends and family. 

The organization, which is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people, put together the handbook to break down the basics of gender, sexual orientation, staying safe when coming out, and even self-care and mental health.

"The truth is that there is no one way to 'come out' or be 'out,'" reads the handbook. "There may be certain people in our lives with whom we want to share our sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and there may be others with whom we know that we do not feel comfortable or safe sharing. This is more than okay!"

The Trevor Projects hopes this handbook can be a resource for queer youth. 

"LGBTQ young people contact The Trevor Project from all over the country to talk about how coming out might impact their relationships with friends, family, and peers, as well as their unique situations at home and school," said Chief Clinical Operations Officer for The Trevor Project Tia Dole, Ph.D. in a statement. "This handbook will help support LGBTQ youth as they explore what coming out safely can mean for them, even if that means choosing to not come out right now. Fear of rejection is a common topic raised by the young people we support, and we want them to know that The Trevor Project is here for them 24/7 to let them know that their identities are valid and that they are loved."

You can read and download the 21-page handbook here. 

Young people in search of support in coming out can contact The Trevor Project's TrevorLifeline 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386. Counseling is also available 24/7 via chat every day at TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting 678-678.