After the New York Times reported the Trump administration may change the definition of gender to a binary that would attempt to deny transgender federal anti-discrimination protections, the Trans Lifeline reportedly received four times its normal call volume.

According to a post on the Trans Lifeline Instagram, the service that provides support to transgender people received four times its average call volume in the immediate wake of the memo announcing Trump may limit the definition of gender to a binary. The post also said the line got double the amount of first time callers in the same time period. This increase, Sam Ames, executive director of Trans Lifeline told Teen Vogue, shows just how much transgender people are impacted by news that they may be more at risk.

"At Trans Lifeline we are able see in real time that policy debates don’t take place in a vacuum — they have direct and immediate impacts on real lives," Ames said. "Since the HHS memo was leaked, the number of calls to our crisis hotline has more than quadrupled, doubling the number of new callers who have never needed to access our services before. This is bad news, but it isn’t new news."

Ames said the Lifeline also saw an increase in calls from people in Massachusetts, where a ballot question will ask voters to decide whether or not transgender people deserve rights to protect them in public spaces. Calling to question the basic humanity of transgender people by debating whether or not they deserve civil rights like the rest of society is obviously harmful. Ames said that is reflected in the uptick in calls.

"Playing politics with civil rights of a vulnerable population has consequences. But moments like this are exactly why Trans Lifeline exists," Ames told Teen Vogue. "Our hotline intervenes at the moment of crisis, and our Microgrants program helps pay for the documents that allow trans people to safely access public spaces."

It's not just services like the hotline that can help transgender people. It's everyone.

"To our cisgender friends — we need you to make sure those who may be hurting today know they’re not alone, speak up with your cisgender friends about the issues affecting our lives, and donate to the trans-led organizations working around the clock right now to support our community," Ames said. "To our trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex family — this is one battle in a much longer war, and we won’t let you fight it alone. We’re here for you, and we’re not going anywhere."

If you're wondering how to support transgender people right now, head here.

To contact the Trans Lifeline, call 877-565-8860, or find more information here.

Related: How to Help Transgender People Fight the Trump Administration's New Policy Memo

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