ORLANDO, Fla. — Zebra Youth, an Orlando nonprofit organization that connects a network of organizations that provide support for LGBTQ+ youth, says it expects more young people to seek mental health counseling after several anti-LGBTQ+ laws were passed in Florida. 

One local licensed mental health counselor says he’s already noticed a marked increase of his clients who’ve said the new laws make them less likely to come out as who they really are.

He says the changes from the laws can be especially traumatic mentally to young people, who react to change differently.

“We’re still impulsive and we still can over-intensify and over-react to the difficult situations that life brings, and when you don’t have the safety of your environment or the safety of your community or just support in general, you’re going to have a real hard time,” said Brett Burlone, a licensed mental health counselor in Central Florida.

Boone High School senior Scarlet Seyler served as President of the high school’s Queer and Ally Alliance during her junior year in 2022-2023. She says an end-of-the-year gathering at a park near the high school for the group took several levels of approval from school administrators, something she says isn’t required for other groups and clubs at the school.

“I think that’s also coming from a place of this is something that’s not safe for schools, this is some sort of taboo that needs to be secured and locked down,” said Seyler. “And queer students feel that oppressive watch that we’re all under a microscope at this point.”

And Seyler says teachers are also under that microscope, afraid of violating any of the new state laws affecting LGBTQ+ students. And she says that makes it harder for students to trust teachers who they often look to for support.  

“That means they’re not doing everything they can to protect their kids, because they’re worried about protecting themselves,” said Seyler.   

Seyler says family is supportive, but she worries about the mental health of classmates who don’t feel comfortable confiding in teachers and don’t have families that support them.

“There’s a lot of personal risk involved with openly saying that I identify as queer, but also that the policies that are being enforced in our public schools are wrong,” said Seyler. 

Nia Larkins just finished her freshman year at Winter Park High School. She owns several books she says are now banned from public schools thanks to state law. She says the books have beneficial advice for LGBTQ+ teens.

“Some queer kid could absolutely use this as a way to deal with their own emotions,” said Larkins. “Personally, a few years ago if I had seen this, this would’ve been very helpful.” 

Larkins says when she went to Tallahassee to speak in opposition to some of the new laws, she feels lawmakers didn’t listen, passing them anyway, making her feel somewhat helpless.

She says outdoor walks with her brother help her feel better when she becomes discouraged.

“That’s our goal every day is to find a new spot to hangout and paint and do something, whatever, and I think it’s a good habit to try a new adventure a little bit every day so you’re not stuck in the same loop of the politics and school and all the things happening,” said Larkins.

Larkins says music also gives her an escape, so she doesn’t get overwhelmed.

“Drums are really loud and you can really (bang) on them, so it’s easy to just get lost in the whatever,” said Larkins.

Unlike Larkins, Seyler is almost finished with high school.  But she worries about students like her who may face even more anti-LGBTQ+ laws to come.

“This is our lives now. This is what it looks like to be queer in Florida, and this is what it looks like to be queer in America,” said Seyler. And that has led to a lot of sadness, really, and it’s really hard to watch in people so young.”

Burlone says members of the LGBTQ+ community who don’t come out and live their lives in secrecy are four to 10 times more likely to abuse drugs, alcohol and be at risk for suicide, homelessness and human trafficking.  He says there is support out there for those young people, even if they can’t find it at home or at school.

“It may not feel this way, but there is a community that’s out there to support you, said Burlone. “So looking in your local community or a couple keywords, or a couple programs or support groups, or a couple companies that are LGBTQ supporting and affirming, it does exist and so you’re not alone.”