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We can elevate LGBTQ+ well-being through safe spaces and allyship

In a world where diversity should be celebrated, it's disheartening to witness the persistent discrimination and violence spurred by anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric that continues to plague our community. The need for safe spaces has never been more urgent. Beyond offering refuge, these spaces are crucial for nurturing the well-being and empowerment of LGBTQ+ individuals, holding the potential to uplift all marginalized identities.

Even in states plagued by anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, like Florida, there is hope. The region boasts a vibrant array of LGBTQ+ organizations and initiatives like the recent City of Miami LGBTQ+ Community Survey and the Miami Beach Cares campaign. Our efforts can cultivate safe spaces in online groups, sanctuary cities, advocacy organizations, and inclusive faith communities and businesses. Our collective responsibility is to provide solace for marginalized identities, creating an environment where local communities are profoundly inviting to those who may be rooted in place by necessity or choice.

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The Board of Director and the SAVE are excited to announce that Todd Delmay will be joining SAVE as our new Executive Director.

Todd brings a distinguished history of LGBTQ+ advocacy to his new role. Notably, he and his husband played a pivotal part in the fight for marriage equality in Florida, as one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit as well as becoming the state's first legally wed same-sex couple in 2015. Their journey took them to the State of the Union address as guests of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and to the White House for the historic signing of the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022.

Todd's commitment continued as he chaired the Board of Pridelines and fostered community ties. Last year, Delmay launched a campaign for Florida State Representative, becoming a prominent opponent of the Don't Say Gay law and using national platforms to raise awareness. As current Executive Director of The SMART Ride and President of the Dolphin Democrats, he remains dedicated to advancing pro-LGBTQ+ policies and candidates in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties regardless of political party.

We are thrilled to welcome Todd as Orlando's successor, knowing that his unwavering commitment and boots-on-the-ground approach will spearhead SAVE's impactful work in the coming years. His background embodies SAVE's mission of supporting the LGBTQ+ community through outreach, advocacy, and education. Orlando will continue to serve as Senior Advisor to the new Executive Director and Board of Directors through the end of 2023, ensuring a seamless transition as Todd takes the helm.

Please join the Board of Directors and the SAVE team in congratulating Todd and welcoming him aboard.

As we reflect on July, which commemorated Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, we find ourselves contemplating its profound significance within our community. Many people in the LGBTQ+ community navigate intersecting identities, such as race, ethnicity, class, disability and other social factors. Recognizing the significance of such intersectionality is vital, particularly relating to mental health and social implications. To foster an environment that empowers and supports individuals with intersecting identities, we must endorse inclusive advocacy that employs a comprehensive approach to equality and social justice.

Intersectional challenges in the LGBTQ+ community

The diversity of people within the LGBTQ+ community includes the experience of a double or triple burden as anti-LGBTQ+ laws and rhetoric proliferate. The compounding effects of discrimination, prejudice and systemic barriers adversely impact the well-being of LGBTQ+ people. Our community, particularly transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, grapple with elevated risks of anxiety, depression that can lead to suicidal tendencies, bullying, discrimination, stigma and hate crimes. Oftentimes, they are also subject to sham practices of conversion therapy, leading to increased rates of mental and physical disorders. Studies by UCLA reveal that LGBTQ+ people who have undergone conversion therapy are nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide, and research from The Trevor Project shows that 41% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year.

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We are excited to launch Miami Beach Cares today, a transformative endeavor generously funded by the City of Miami Beach. The heart of the initiative, www.MiamiBeachCare.lgbt, stands as a robust public resource and educational guide for individuals, families and allies seeking valuable insights, community, and dedicated services related to LGBTQ+ issues.

Recent studies underscore the disproportionate challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth in the realm of mental health, highlighting the need for accessible and suitable support. Miami Beach Cares serves LGBTQ+ youth and their allies by providing an extensive directory that includes multiple organizations committed to championing the LGBTQ+ community throughout Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County.

We're grateful to the City of Miami Beach for funding this project and helping us support LGBTQ+ youth, students, parents and allies This launch coincides with Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September, serving as a poignant reminder of the pressing need to safeguard our community, especially LGBTQ+ youth. Miami Beach Cares aligns with SAVE's ongoing commitment to advocacy and community support. Having a sense of belonging and finding community can save lives and serve as a haven for those seeking care or embarking on their personal LGBTQ+ journeys.

Check out the resources at www.MiamiBeachCares.lgbt.

We Must Facilitate Awareness, Raise Visibility and Instill Empathy to Fight this Epidemic

As anti-trans rhetoric continues to rise in our country, misinformation about nonbinary, gender non-conforming and transgender people runs rampant. Currently, the ACLU is tracking 467 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S., many specifically targeting this community. Anti-trans rhetoric often pushes a false narrative of young people being rushed to surgery as soon as they show signs of being a gender non-conforming person, injecting unfounded fear into the public. Transitioning is a multi-tiered process completed alongside professionals. We must facilitate awareness on this topic, raise visibility of the transgender and nonbinary people and instill empathy in our communities.

There is a lack of understanding surrounding the range of gender-affirming care available. Although we all have our own individual experiences of gender identity, when someone’s gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth, they can experience mental health challenges. Gender-affirming care can help alleviate stress related to gender identity through therapy for issues like suicidal thoughts, depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, a recent Trevor Project survey revealed that 93% of transgender and nonbinary youth are anxious about being denied this type of care due to state or local legislation. Harmful legislation has made this fear a reality, exacerbating mental health issues and deaths within this community. In fact, 45% of LGBTQ youth considered suicide in 2021, including 53% of transgender and nonbinary youth. Proper mental health care would significantly reduce these numbers. If we value the well-being of our youth, it is crucial that we offer them life-saving care.

Sadly, the public is often misinformed about transitioning, leading to erroneous misconceptions. We must not lose hope, however. Medical News Today found that for many transgender people, quality of life improves after transition, citing better psychosocial functioning, more stable relationships and increased contentment. Education and access to care are vital to the well-being of this community—lives are at stake.

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