Celebrating LGBTQ+ Identity and Navigating New Challenges
As we enter another Pride Month, it is important to be aware and learn of the challenges that LGBTQ individuals are facing as well as ways to support LGBTQ+ unaccompanied youth. The past year has brought additional challenges and fears when it comes to being open, honest, and fully authentic. As an advocate, you are in a unique position in the life of many unaccompanied youth. You and your organization may be one of the few places the youth can access trusted adults, safe spaces, and connection to community resources. As we see the conversations regarding LGBTQ+ rights, mental health care, and legal protections continue to evolve, advocates are called upon to help youth navigate the uncertainty while continuing to grow their resilience, belonging, and hope.
As youth question their identity, their safety in being themselves, and their acceptance by others, it is important to let them know that they are safe and to welcome them to be themselves. Celebrating a youth’s identity can at times be misunderstood as focusing exclusively on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Celebrating a person’s identity goes beyond that; it involves recognizing and valuing all aspects of a young person’s lived experience. For LGBTQ+ youth this can look like:
- Using the youth’s affirmed name and pronouns
- As an organization, recognizing Pride month, National Coming Out day, or Transgender Day of Visibility.
- Creating an opportunity for youth to see themselves reflected in media, stories, blogs, etc.
- Helping the youth explore their strengths, interests, talents, and aspirations. They are a whole person beyond their LGBTQ+ identity.
- Recognizing intersectionality, as sexual orientation and gender identity have intersecting experiences with race, ethnicity, culture, religion, socioeconomic status, and other identities.
Celebration goes beyond only one day or month. Learning is continuous. Celebration and affirmation happen every day. It is the way that as advocates we remind youth that they are welcome and wanted in this space. Studies indicate that youth who feel accepted by their peers, school, and/or families can have lower levels of depression and lower suicide risk[1]. For youth who are still developing their identity and building their community, even small acts of inclusion can impact their sense of self and their feelings of safety.
For youth seeking mental health services that will also celebrate and affirm their identity, there may be some additional concerns, fears, or hesitation based on what they are hearing about the Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar [2] and what that means for access to mental health care. This case was decided in March 2026 and involved a Colorado law that restricted licensed mental health professionals from engaging in conversion therapy with minors. The court concluded that the law infringed on the First Amendment rights of counselors. This has created uncertainty about how states can regulate counseling conversations. If youth are fearful of seeking services, you can remind them that most licensed mental health professionals continue to follow professional
ethics, evidence-based practices, and standards of care that emphasize supporting the client rather than changing their identity[1].
If youth are unsure of counseling or have questions, you can assist in searching for mental health services by empowering the youth to identify professionals who are affirming and align with their needs. You can do this by helping the youth gather information that is important to them, and evaluate their provider through questions such as:
- What experience do you have in working with LGBTQ+ youth?
- What does affirming care mean in your practice?
- How do you support clients who are exploring their identity?
- How do you approach issues that are related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity?
Supporting and celebrating LGBTQ+ youth involves helping them feel seen, valued, and connected. As an advocate, you play an important role in the well-being of the LGBTQ+ unaccompanied youth you serve. Through changing policies, fears, and uncertainty, you can help the youth feel empowered, respected, worthy, and not alone, not only through their immigration case, but as they navigate a changing landscape for LGBTQ+ rights.
Additional Resources:
- How to Signal You are an Ally in Hostile Environment | The Trevor Project
- How to Support LGBTQ+ Children - Child Mind Institute
- How Allies Can Support and Celebrate Pride Month
By CILA social work team
[1] Trevor News, Chiles v. Salazar: What you need to know about the U.S. Supreme Court case on conversion therapy, The Trevor Project (Mar. 31, 2026), https://www.thetrevorproject.org/blog/chiles-v-salazar/.
[1] Samantha Riedel, Survey of 34,000 LGBTQ+ Youth Underlines the Power of Affirmation and Joy, Them (May 6, 2022), https://www.them.us/story/lgbtq-youth-study-trevor-project-how-to-support-queer-youth.
[2] Chiles v. Salazar, 146 S. Ct. 1010 (2026)
By CILA Social Work Team