The Epidemic of Suicide

Every year, more than 720,000 people around the world die by suicide, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States alone, nearly 49,000 lives are lost to suicide each year — an average of 133 people every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For LGBTQ+ people, the crisis is even more severe.

According to the latest research from The Trevor Project, between 36% and 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously consider attempting suicide each year, and between 10% and 20% report making an attempt. These rates are even higher among transgender youth, bisexual youth, and LGBTQ+ youth of color.

Research on suicide among LGBTQ+ adults is more limited, but what we do know is clear: queer people experience disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, discrimination, substance use, and suicidality.

Experts have identified many factors that increase suicide risk, including mental health conditions, substance misuse, traumatic experiences, chronic stress, social isolation, and access to lethal means.

But beneath many of these experiences lies something that is rarely talked about enough:

Shame.

Shame is the deeply held belief that we are fundamentally not enough — not worthy enough, not lovable enough, not attractive enough, not successful enough, not masculine enough, not feminine enough, not acceptable enough.

Every human being experiences shame.

But marginalized communities — including LGBTQ+ people — often carry far greater burdens of it.

When someone grows up in a world that tells them they are wrong, broken, sinful, disgusting, or unworthy simply because of who they are, those messages become internalized. Over time, shame chips away at self-worth. It erodes connection. It isolates. It convinces people that they are a burden rather than a gift.

Many people then search for ways to escape that pain. Some turn to substances. Some withdraw from relationships. Some numb themselves emotionally. Some lose hope entirely.

Shame may not be the only cause of suicide, but it is one of the forces that quietly fuels despair.

That is why the SHAMELESS Foundation exists.

Our mission is to dismantle shame before it destroys lives.

Through education, community, advocacy, and accessible resources, we are building a world where LGBTQ+ people know they are worthy exactly as they are — and where no one has to believe they would be better off gone.

Our vision is bold:

To help save 1,000,000 lives.

To help 1,000,000 people choose to stay.

Because every life matters.

And because no one should lose their life simply because they were taught to hate themselves.

We've Already Begun

The SHAMELESS Foundation isn't starting from zero.

Our work was already helping LGBTQ+ people around the world challenge shame, embrace authenticity, and reconnect with their worth.

Over the past year alone, we've reached more than 1.1 million people through educational content across social media, welcomed 3,458 subscribers to our educational platform, and built a community of more than 50,000 followers committed to healing and growth.

Our work extends far beyond the screen.

We've served more than 500 coaching clients, guided 200+ participants through transformational challenges, welcomed 23 people to immersive retreats, and built an online community of 463 members (and growing) dedicated to supporting one another without judgment.

Today, members of our community span 49 U.S. states and 102 countries, demonstrating that shame is a global issue — and that people everywhere are searching for hope, connection, and belonging.

These numbers represent more than reach. They represent conversations that replaced silence, moments of self-acceptance where shame once lived, people who chose vulnerability over isolation, and individuals who began believing that they are worthy exactly as they are.

We've proven there's a need.

Now we're building the organization capable of meeting it on an even larger scale.

With your support, we can expand our educational programs, increase access to mental health and shame-reduction resources, strengthen LGBTQ+ communities, and move closer to our mission of helping save 1,000,000 lives.

How Your Donation Will Be Used

Every dollar invested in the SHAMELESS Foundation helps us create life-saving education, community, and support for LGBTQ+ individuals around the world.

Staff — $160,000 (64%)

People save lives — not programs alone. This funding supports the team responsible for developing educational resources, facilitating support programs, coordinating volunteers, growing our community, managing operations, and ensuring the Foundation can sustainably expand its impact.

Retreats — $30,000 (12%)

Retreats provide immersive healing experiences where LGBTQ+ individuals can step away from shame, build meaningful relationships, and reconnect with themselves in safe, affirming spaces.

Community Workshops — $8,000 (3%)

Funding allows us to provide educational workshops focused on topics such as shame, mental health, relationships, identity, sexuality, and self-worth, making transformative resources accessible to more people.

Organizational Growth & Operations — $52,000 (21%)

This supports the infrastructure that makes our mission possible, including technology, educational content development, marketing and outreach, insurance, legal and accounting services, website maintenance, software, and other operational expenses that allow us to reach more people and serve them well.

How You Can Help

Founding Supporter — $100

As a Founding Supporter, you're helping build the SHAMELESS Foundation from the ground up. Your gift helps expand LGBTQ+ education, reduce shame, and create communities where people know they belong.

You'll receive:

Digital Founding Supporter Certificate
Exclusive SHAMELESS Foundation sticker pack
Digital wallpaper
Annual Impact Report
Recognition as a Founding Supporter (optional)

Founding Advocate — $500

Founding Advocates help make our educational programs and community initiatives possible. Your generosity directly supports resources that help LGBTQ+ individuals heal from shame and build self-worth.

You'll receive:

Everything in the Founding Supporter tier
Limited-edition SHAMELESS Foundation T-shirt
Recognition on our Founding Donors webpage (optional)

Founding Champion — $1,000

Founding Champions are investing in the future of the SHAMELESS Foundation and helping us expand our reach to more communities around the world.

You'll receive:

Everything in the previous tiers
Limited-edition SHAMELESS Foundation hoodie
Handwritten thank-you letter from our Founder
Recognition in our inaugural Annual Impact Report (optional)

Founding Visionary — $5,000

Founding Visionaries play a transformative role in shaping the future of the SHAMELESS Foundation. Your leadership allows us to expand life-changing programs, educational resources, and community support for LGBTQ+ individuals.

You'll receive:

Everything in the previous tiers
Exclusive Founding Visionary gift box
Personalized thank-you video from our Founder
Invitation to our annual virtual Founders Update
Lifetime recognition as a Founding Visionary (optional)

Founding Legacy Partner — $10,000

Founding Legacy Partners are helping create a lasting legacy of hope, healing, and belonging. Your extraordinary generosity helps lay the foundation for a movement dedicated to helping save one million lives.

You'll receive:

Everything in the previous tiers
Framed Founding Legacy Partner certificate
Invitation to an exclusive VIP Foundation gathering (virtual or in person, as available)
Permanent recognition as a Founding Legacy Partner on the SHAMELESS Foundation website (optional)
Private annual impact conversation with our Founder

Every person deserves to know they are worthy of love, belonging, and a future. By becoming a founding donor of the SHAMELESS Foundation, you're doing more than making a donation — you're helping build a movement that challenges shame, strengthens LGBTQ+ communities, and reminds people that their lives matter. Together, we can create a world where fewer people suffer in silence, more people find hope, and one million lives are forever changed. Thank you for believing in this mission and for helping make it possible.

With love,
Coach Kevin Martin, Founder
Walter Kinoshita, Executive Director
Scott Beever, Operations Manager
Michael Ironwood, Community Manager
SHAMELESS Foundation Board of Directors

Please Note: Thank you for your patience during our transition from SafeHaus Foundation to SHAMELESS Foundation. As we complete our rebrand, you may still see the name SafeHaus Foundation on some legal documents or charitable databases. This is the same nonprofit organization with the same EIN (92-3337253), established on April 4, 2023, and registered as a Hawaii 501(c)(3). Only our name has changed to better reflect our mission.

SHAMELESS Foundation General Fundraiser

Help us save 1,000,000 lives.

Team Members