Supporting an LGBTQ+ Child Facing Abuse or Rejection
LGBTQ+ children and young people are at higher risk of identity-based abuse — at home, at school, and online. This pathway covers homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying and harassment, conversion-therapy pressure, family rejection, and targeted online abuse. Safeguarding law applies regardless of the young person's identity, and a child's sexual orientation or gender identity is never a reason to delay protection.
Immediate danger — call 999
If a child has been physically assaulted, has been thrown out of the family home with nowhere to go, or is being threatened with violence because of their identity, call 999. If they are at risk of being taken abroad against their will for so-called 'conversion' or forced marriage, treat it as an emergency and call 999 or the Forced Marriage Unit.
What to report
- •Physical assault, threats, or hate speech directed at a young person because of sexual orientation or gender identity
- •Pressure from family, religious or community settings to undergo 'conversion' or 'reparative' practices
- •A young person made homeless or threatened with homelessness after coming out
- •Targeted online abuse, doxxing, or outing without consent
- •Bullying at school that is not being addressed through the school's behaviour and safeguarding policies
How to report
Galop — 0800 999 5428
When to use
For any LGBT+ person experiencing abuse, hate crime, sexual violence, domestic abuse, or so-called conversion practices
How to contact
Call the National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428 (Mon, Tue, Fri 10am–5pm; Wed, Thu 10am–8pm) or email [email protected]. Galop also runs a Hate Crime helpline on 020 7704 2040.
What to expect
Galop case workers provide free, confidential advocacy and can help with safety planning, reporting to police, and accessing refuge or temporary accommodation. They work alongside, not instead of, statutory services.
Mermaids — 0808 801 0400
When to use
When a trans, non-binary or gender-questioning young person under 19 — or their parent or carer — needs specialist support
How to contact
Call 0808 801 0400 (Mon–Fri 9am–9pm), use the web chat or text MERMAIDS to 85258. Free and confidential.
What to expect
Mermaids offers emotional support, family support groups, and youth groups. They do not provide clinical care but can help families navigate NHS gender services and school policy disputes.
Switchboard LGBT+ — 0800 0119 100
When to use
When the young person or their family wants a listening service that is not crisis-only — phone, web chat or email
How to contact
Call 0800 0119 100 (10am–10pm daily), web chat at switchboard.lgbt or email [email protected].
What to expect
Switchboard provides information and a confidential ear. Volunteers are LGBT+ themselves and trained to support a wide age range, including families.
akt — youth homelessness
When to use
When an LGBTQ+ young person aged 16-25 has been made homeless or is at risk of homelessness after coming out
How to contact
Self-referral form at akt.org.uk/get-help. akt has hubs in London, Manchester, Newcastle and Bristol and supports young people across the UK remotely.
What to expect
akt offers housing advocacy, mentoring and a Purple Door emergency host scheme. They work alongside local authority housing teams, who have a duty to assist under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
Stonewall information service
When to use
When you want general information about LGBT+ rights, school policy, or workplace and family issues — not a crisis line
How to contact
Use the contact form at stonewall.org.uk or email [email protected].
What to expect
Stonewall provides information rather than casework. For urgent abuse or homelessness, route via Galop or akt instead.
Childline — 0800 1111
When to use
When the child under 19 wants to speak to someone confidentially — they can ask for an LGBTQ+ trained counsellor
How to contact
The child calls 0800 1111 or uses 1-2-1 chat at childline.org.uk. The Childline website has a dedicated LGBTQ+ section.
What to expect
Childline counsellors will not 'out' a child to family or school. They will only break confidentiality if there is a serious risk to the child's safety. They can help the child plan how to disclose to a trusted adult.
School Designated Safeguarding Lead
When to use
When abuse is happening in or via school — peer-on-peer homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying counts as a safeguarding matter under KCSiE
How to contact
Contact the school directly and ask to speak to the DSL. Reference the Equality Act 2010 and Keeping Children Safe in Education if needed.
What to expect
The DSL must record the concern and take action under the school's behaviour and safeguarding policy. Schools have a Public Sector Equality Duty and cannot lawfully treat identity-based bullying as a minor matter.
Evidence checklist
Gather this information before or during your report. Do not delay reporting while collecting evidence — but preserve what you can.
- A short timeline of incidents — date, what happened, who was present
- Screenshots of online abuse, including profile names, usernames and timestamps
- Names of staff already informed at school, college or club and what they said
- Any written communication from family members (texts, emails) containing threats or rejection
- Medical or counselling records, if injury or harm has been documented
- Details of any 'conversion' practice the young person has been pressured into — who, where, when
What to say
You do not need to use a script, but this template may help if you are nervous about making the call. Adapt it to your circumstances.
"I am calling about a young person aged [age] who is being [briefly describe — bullied at school / threatened at home / targeted online] because they are [LGBTQ+ / trans / questioning their identity]. They are currently [staying with me / at home / unable to return home]. I am their [parent / carer / friend / teacher]. I need [safety advice / help finding somewhere to stay tonight / support reporting to police / support speaking to their school]. I am calling Galop / Mermaids / akt because [reason]."
What happens next
If you contact Galop, an advocate will work with you on a safety plan and can support a police report. If a young person is at risk of homelessness, akt and the local authority housing options team must be approached together — local authorities have a duty to take a homelessness application from a 16-17 year old or a care leaver under 25. School concerns should be logged with the DSL in writing; if they are not addressed, the next step is the headteacher, then the chair of governors, then Ofsted via its whistleblowing route. So-called 'conversion practices' have been condemned by all major UK psychotherapy bodies; suspected attempts at conversion in a religious or community setting should be discussed with Galop and, where a child is at risk of being taken abroad, with the Forced Marriage Unit on 020 7008 0151.
What not to do
- ✗Do not 'out' the young person to family, school or community without their informed consent unless they are at immediate risk of serious harm
- ✗Do not assume the abusive setting is the only safe option — homelessness services exist for a reason and acceptance varies
- ✗Do not minimise religious or cultural pressure as a 'family matter' — it can still be coercive control and a safeguarding concern
- ✗Do not delete the young person's social media accounts in an attempt to 'protect' them — those accounts may contain evidence
- ✗Do not refer to NHS gender clinics as the only support pathway — community organisations like Mermaids can provide emotional support during long waits
Frequently asked questions
The young person is 16 and parents have thrown them out — what now?
Contact akt and the local authority's housing options team the same day. A 16-17 year old presenting as homeless is owed a duty of assessment under the Children Act 1989 (section 20) and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. They should not be placed in a B&B except in emergencies and never for more than six weeks. Galop can advocate alongside you.
Is so-called 'conversion therapy' illegal in the UK?
There is no specific UK criminal offence as of 2026, but related conduct can be charged — for example as coercive control under the Serious Crime Act 2015, as assault, or as a safeguarding failure. All major UK therapy and medical bodies have signed the Memorandum of Understanding condemning the practice. Galop can advise on reporting routes.
The young person is questioning and not sure yet — should I still call?
Yes. Support services do not require a fixed label. Switchboard, Mermaids and Childline all support questioning young people. Identity-based bullying is a safeguarding matter under Keeping Children Safe in Education regardless of how the child self-identifies.
Sources and further information
- Mermaids — Helpline — Mermaids UK
- akt — Get help — akt
- Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 — Department for Education
- Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy — BACP and signatory bodies
This guidance is for informational purposes. It is not a substitute for emergency services or professional safeguarding support. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 (UK) or 911 (US) now.
Was this page helpful?
Last reviewed: 2026-05-22. This page provides general educational information, not legal or professional safeguarding advice. UK helplines and legislation may change — verify current details with the relevant organisation.