Thread by @MindfulMajority

FACT: Suicide is the number one cause of death of all #Utah youth; this is not the case nationally. More alarming, the teen suicide rate in Utah has doubled since 2011. #LGBT #UTpol #LDS #Mormon #BYU

Another Fact: Teen suicide is lower when there is an #LGBTQ supportive environment. #Utah is notorious for its lack of support for and acceptance of the #LGBT community. #LDS #Mormon #UTpol #BYU

Relatedly, studies show that in areas where homosexuality is tolerated, mental health outcomes for #LGBTQ are the same as non-LGBTQ people. Elevated risk of suicide correlates w/ elevated risk of mental illness that is prevalent among LGBTs living in areas hostile to them.

#Utah's teen suicide crises, a substantial volume of indirect and inferential data show, is catalyzed by the #Mormon environment, which continues a culture of shame and shunning of #LGBTQ.

Direct data on this phenomenon is difficult to come by, b/c, as a Provo City policy officer said, "[suicide victims] don’t leave a note saying they died by suicide because they are gay." Many #LDS families are in denial about their #LGBT children's orientation. #Utah #UTpol

'Homelessness, depression, suicide attempts, social isolation, bullying all demand an active response from the @LDSChurch & #Utah. Much direct evidence shows that these problems have a huge impact on #LGBT people.' --Rational Faiths #Mormon #LDS #BYU #UTpol

We cannot afford to wait any longer to generate a robust public, religious, and community response to curb the emotional & social abuse that drives so many of our #LGBT brothers and sisters into depression or worse. #LGBTQ #LDS #UTpol #utah

I witnessed the destructive anti-#LGBT culture predominant within #LDS communities as a #BYU student myself years ago. #Utah and the @LDSChurch are in denial about the Utah suicide epidemic. #UTpol #Mormon

For robust empirical and statistical analysis about #Utah's suicide epidemic, I strongly recommend reading this post by two distinguished researchers: rationalfaiths.com/the-lgbtq-morm… via @RationalFaiths

We need parents to tell their kids: "we'll love and support you whether you marry a boy or a girl or don’t marry at all." People are more important than beliefs. #LoveWins #LGBTQ #UTpol #LDS #BYU #Mormon