Calling a national hotline can be a daunting task. This can be especially true for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) individuals who have experienced discrimination and ignorance in other facets of their lives, including from people who are supposed to be there to help them, such as family members, child welfare professionals, or service providers.

Reaching Out for Help: A Guide for LGBTQ Youth on How to Receive Support and Services from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, made possible through the generous support of the Palette Fund, aims to show LGBTQ youth that if they call the Hotline or send a text to BeFree, they will be met with highly trained Hotline Advocates who will not judge them and will do their best to connect them to LGBTQ-sensitive support and services.

Reaching Out is a visual and audio presentation that guides LGBTQ youth through the process of contacting the National Human Trafficking Hotline and Polaris’s BeFree Textline and reinforces that these spaces are safe, inclusive, and identify-affirming.

There are a lot of reasons why a person will or will not reach out for help when they are in trouble. The decision to seek assistance is completely up to the individual. Some people aren’t ready to leave their situation or receive services, and that’s okay. If you are ready, the Hotline is here and ready to listen.