Trans rights are under attack in an unprecedented way. According to Trans Legislation Tracker, an organization that keeps tabs on proposed laws targeting trans people, nearly a thousand anti-trans bills are under consideration across 49 states—shoutout to Vermont, the only state without anti-trans bills on the docket.
But even as trans rights are targeted, and trans people are made into conservative talking points there’s good news: Organizations like Trans Lifeline are stepping up to help make sure trans people can find help when they need it. In honor of Pride month, Sniffies is supporting Trans Lifeline with a donation of $15,000 to aid in it’s critical work of helping trans people in crisis across the country.
Sniffies’ HUSH caught up with Rin Gabel and Dom Agrifoglio from Trans Lifeline, who spoke about the organization's important work, how to be the best trans ally you can be, and how you can support Trans Lifeline right now.
The following interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
How did Trans Lifeline begin? What's the origin story?
Dom Agrifoglio: We were founded in 2014, and started as a hotline. Eventually we began issuing micro grants to trans people too. The other arm is advocacy. Last October we published a report called The problem with 988 [the suicide hotline], to educate the community on the issues with involving the police without a callers consent. It's sparked a lot of conversation nationwide, but the ultimate goal is for every hotline in the country to be a safe place for anyone to call into, especially trans people of color.
Rin Gabel: Our two founders, Nina Chubai and Greta Gustava Martela, knew that there was an epidemic of trans people wanting to harm themselves in ways that are really bad. The founders themselves were abolitionists, so they decided that, no matter what, Trans Lifeline is never going to call for police interference. It’s also important to note that we are trans people serving other trans people. We amplify trans voices, especially trans news. How can we not with our political climate?
What does it mean for Trans Lifeline to partner with Sniffies?
RG: I got really excited when Sniffies hit our inbox. Trans people know what Trans Lifeline is, but we also need our allies who keep us safe, Sniffies is a cruising app, but it's not just for gay cis men, you know? We understand that more and more people's identities are becoming more ingrained in other communities, and we need to show up for each other. We know that allies are an integral part of our community, so it’s important that Sniffies is showing up as an ally.
Why is it especially important to support Trans Lifeline now?
RG: How long do you have? Trump and his dumb, big bill are trying to cut funding to suicide hotlines, to trans health care, and all the things that would impact our lives. The good thing is that he can't touch Trans Lifeline, because we're a grassroots organization. All of our money is funded by people, for people. As more of these policies and laws come through, they’ll have an effect on other LGBTQ+ hotlines, and we anticipate that we will feel an increased demand. We still need support and to keep existing because we're not going anywhere.
Have you lost funding recently?
DA: We've had increases in individual giving—people want to put their money where their mouth is. There is also definitely a climate shift at the foundation level. We are experiencing additional barriers, either in folks like attitudes, or policies changing because they're scared of losing their foundation status.
How immediate is the need for an organization like Trans Lifeline?
DA: Upwards of 50% of trans adults have had ideations around suicide, and that number for youth jumps up to 86%. Those statistics were before we were seeing such a hefty increase in anti-trans legislation, so they’re probably an under representation of what we're looking at. People calling into crisis lines are afraid they're going to be incarcerated as a result of that call, or put on a mental health hold against their will, so people aren't calling and getting the help that they need out of that justified fear.
We're seeing a major increase in the necessary capacity right now, because we're one of the only hotlines that people can know that they're safe when they call and know that they're talking to a trans person who has been through this stuff.
Trans Lifeline is trying to answer 25,000 calls annually—that's a year to year increase for us. And we are relaunching or revamping our micro grants program and trying to give out $100,000 this year in micro grants.
How can someone reading get involved?
RG: Share the hotline number first and foremost. We want to make sure that our community stays safe, and knows that we are a place that represents them. We don't call the police, the hotline operators are trained to be able to talk you through the crisis that you're having. In a more tangible way—just to donate to us.
