July is Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month (formerly recognized as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month), and now more than ever, it’s crucial that we shine a light on mental health in queer and transgender BIPOC communities. QTBIPOC are too often forced to endure the negative effects of both racism and anti-LGBTQ bias, elevating stress, and compounding mental health challenges. We must ensure that all BIPOC -- including those of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions -- receive the support and resources needed to truly thrive.

We know that queer and trans Black, Indigenous, people of color are too often forced to endure the negative effects of both racism and anti-LGBTQ bias, elevating stress and compounding mental health challenges. HRC recognizes the particular urgency of having resources for QTBIPOC mental health during these unprecedented times of hypervisible anti-trans and racial violence, and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in our communities. We also know that QTBIPOC in general face barriers to treatment and care, carry generational trauma and mistrust of the medical community and have layered stigma around mental health. Our mental health is important — and right now even the most resilient among us are struggling for peace of mind.