Hope in Every Step: Building a Future for LGBTQIA+ Youth
By Melinda Wong, Safe Pathways Program Coordinator VNS Health Bronx Voice June 10, 2025 NEW YORK - PRIDE Month is a time to break down barriers and celebrate the unique qualities that make each person special and one-of-a-kind, regardless of their sexual or gender identity. But for many LGBTQIA+ youth, this celebration can feel out of reach. Discrimination, bullying, family rejection, and limited access to care still prevent many young people from living with authenticity—and, yes, PRIDE. The impact is profound: LGBTQIA+ youth have significantly higher rates of attempted suicide compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. In New York City alone, the Department of Health found that 32% of youth who have been bullied due to their identity have attempted suicide. These statistics are painfully sobering, and no young person ...