There are approximately two million young people between the ages of thirteen to seventeen that identify as LGBTQ+ in the United States, which constitutes 10 % of the youth population.

In more recent years, there has been more acceptance towards LGBTQ+ youth from their peers. However, there has also been recent state and local-level movement from mostly conservative state legislatures to target the ability of these young people to live their lives freely. LGBTQ+ youth are more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience negative health and life outcomes due to bullying and a lack of support for their mental and physical health. Increasingly federal and local policies are acknowledging and focusing on the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ youth. Numerous national advocacy groups and other organizations are also giving greater attention to LGBTQ+ youth in their work. The Trevor Project is the largest non-profit organization in the United States that focuses on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth. However, the work of organizations like this and the policy advancements for LGBTQ+ youth have come after hard fought legal fights and are constantly under threat.