Seven Democratic U.S. senators have sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asking him to reconsider eliminating all funding to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services, the federal program that provides emergency crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth at risk of suicide. The letter noted that rates of suicidality among LGBTQ+ youth are much higher than for non-LGBTQ+ youth.
Congress increased the program’s funding from $7.2 million during its 2023 pilot year to $33.1 million in 2024. However, a leaked budget draft from HHS proposed eliminating its budget entirely. If approved by Congress, the budget would go into effect on October 1.
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“While we strongly disagree with the many actions taken by the Trump Administration targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, we believe that suicide prevention should be a nonpartisan issue. Elimination of services that help keep youth alive is reckless, and we urge you to reconsider your proposal to eliminate this lifeline,” the letter states.
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The letter notes that 40% LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the last year and that 12% of LGBTQ+ youth attempted suicide in the last year. LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-LGBTQ+ peers and also face higher rates of depression, anxiety, and bullying, according to The Trevor Project.
“This specialized [service] connects LGBTQ+ youth with specially trained crisis counselors, who can provide understanding, empathetic, and confidential support,” the letter continues. “Since its inception in 2022, the Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth hotline has received over 1.2 million crisis contacts and utilization of the Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth program has spiked over the last several months.”
The letter was signed by the following seven Democratic U.S. senators: Tammy Baldwin (WI), Edward Markey (MA), Jeffrey Merkley (OR), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Ron Wyden (OR), Jack Reed (RI), and Alex Padilla (CA).
There’s proof that the anti-LGBTQ+ policies of the current president administration are increasing feelings of suicidality among queer youth. Calls into The Trevor Project’s suicide prevention services increased by 33% on Inauguration Day compared to weeks prior, and a 700% increase on November 6, 2024, the day after the presidential election.
At the time, Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black said in a statement, “Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity. Ending the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth specialized services will not just strip away access from millions of LGBTQ+ kids and teens – it will put their lives at risk. These programs were implemented to address a proven, unprecedented, and ongoing mental health crisis among our nation’s young people with strong bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by President Trump himself.”
If this story affected you, just know you are not alone. The Trans Lifeline Hotline offers support to trans/nonbinary people struggling with mental health from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. PST Monday-Friday. Call (877) 565-8860 to be connected to a trans/nonbinary peer operator and receive full anonymity and confidentiality. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth ages 24 and younger, can be reached at (866) 488-7386.
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