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Give Us The Floor

Give Us The Floor nurtures a safe online peer-led community specializing in support for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in distress.

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We provide 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and allies in distress with the peer-positive human connection that they are too often missing. We help 2SLGBTQIA+ youth deal with distress through inclusive, innovative and unique Peer Support Chats that provide constant contact and anonymity in a safe youth-only community, breaking the isolation and shame cycles they are experiencing. Trained youth facilitate the confidential groups and participants help each other with prevalent mental health and social issues such as depression, isolation, anxiety, identity, discrimination, bullying, relationships, domestic violence, and body image.

Within the Supportive Group Chats:

  • Youth in distress from all backgrounds and geographies have 24/7 access to peer support in a safe, non-judgmental, and confidential environment.
  • Members communicate anonymously as often as they wish via closed group chats - no one on one communication is possible
  • They share daily life struggles, insights and accomplishments, encourage each other and provide non-judgmental feedback without fear of stigma, taboo or shame
  • Groups are organized by age and primary discussion topic to keep the chats relevant and relatable
  • Youth who need adult help are quickly identified and given resources to help them.

Research reveals that increased isolation is contributing to the rapid deterioration of mental health and wellbeing. It’s affecting youth way more than adults: Experiencing social isolation and loneliness [during adolescence/ childhood] increased the risk of depression up to 9 years later. *

Some important statistics:

  • 50% of LGBTQ youth age 13-17 seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year and 18% of them did attempt suicide:**
  • LGBTQ youth of color reported higher rates than their white peers: 12% of white youth attempted suicide compared to 21% of Native / Indigenous youth, 20% of Middle ------- Eastern / Northern African youth, 19% of Black youth, 17% of multiracial youth, 16% of Latinx youth, and 12% of Asian / Pacific Islander youth**
  • LGBTQ youth who had access to spaces that affirmed their sexual orientation and gender identity reported lower rates of attempting suicide **
  • 60% of LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health support in the past year were not able to access care, including nearly 3 in 5 transgender youth and more than 3 in 5 cisgender youth**

In 2022, 87% of Give Us The Floor participants reported suffering from anxiety, 74% from loneliness, 73% from depression, 54% from self-harm and 59% had suicidal thoughts.

After only 1 month in the program:

  • 91% of the participants reported that the group chat had helped with their struggles
  • 79% say they are not sure or sure they couldn’t have gotten the help from somewhere else
  • 84% reported that the group chat had helped them feel less lonely
  • 79% reported that the group chat had improved the way they feel about themselves
  • 99% of the participants reported that they feel that their group is a safe place
  • 92% reported that they feel comfortable sharing their personal challenges

You can learn more in our 2022 Impact Report https://giveusthefloor.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Give-Us-The-Floor-2022-Impact-Report.pdf

*Rapid Systematic Review: The Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in the Context of COVID-19, Loades and colleagues
**National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2022 - The Trevor Project

San Francisco, CA
Small organization
giveusthefloor.org
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 47-4343977

Fundraisers

Feed fundraiser card link to Support a Lifeline for 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth of New Mexico
Give Us The Floor logo
Official fundraiser

Support a Lifeline for 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth of New Mexico

Across the United States, Queer and Trans youth are facing discrimination, rejection, and mental health challenges,  too often leading to self-harm and suicidal ideation. Too many feel abandoned, and alone—but together, we have the power to change the narrative. Give Us The Floor (GUTF) is a pioneering 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides a safe, anonymous online space where queer young people can connect, share, and find peer support that changes—and often saves—their lives. GUTF is a true lifeline. This innovative, peer-led model not only helps youth survive—it empowers them to thrive, fostering resilience and belonging in a world that too often denies them both. Since 2015, GUTF has supported over 15,000 youth, with 4,000–6,000 participants joining annually.   Even if you cannot attend our event on June 17th, you can still be an active part of the initiative. With backing from Eric Oppenheimer Family Foundation, Frost Foundation, and Modern Elder Academy, we are building momentum — Please join the movement. Please consider making a contribution to help us expand our peer-support programming and reach more 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in New Mexico who are seeking a lifeline. Over 82% of our budget goes directly to the program.   Here are some examples of what your support can help achieve: $5,000: Establish NM Youth Ambassador Role Covers 25% of cost for local, part-time young leader to build community connections and establish the org as a trusted resource. $3,500: Native NM Influencer Partnership Covers 50% of a partnership with a NM Native American influencer. We recognize that successfully reaching Native American youth in need of support requires partnering with someone from within their community. $2,500: Support Ten Youth in New Mexico Covers the cost of programming to support ten youth in New Mexico for up to a year. $1,500: 1 Month of Crisis Response Support Covers one month of costs of clinical mental health professionals to support participants in acute crisis. $500 & $250: Support Local Outreach Efforts Helps us reach youth directly across the state—via online outreach and printed materials, distributed at events and through local partners. Together, we can offer hope, belonging, and a safe space to Queer youth of New Mexico when they need it most.
Raised
$35,000
Goal
$100,000
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Donors

  • Thomas Miles III

    In honor of Michelle

  • Elizabeth Winthrop

    I'm always happy to support this important organization that brings a sense of safety to LGBTQI teenagers.

  • Alexandra Rubinstein
  • Toby Bright
  • Ian and Lois Alsop
  • Kathrine Erickson