Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, said that suicide among LGBTQ + young people is an urgent public health crisis, and defunding of LGBTQI programs would make saving lives much harder.
The Trump administration, according to a leaked budget draft, plans on asking Congress to defund LGBTQI crisis centers and shift those funds to other suicide prevention projects. "This does not appear to be a cost-saving measure," said Black.
During his first term in 2020, President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill that made 988 the number for the suicide hotline, CNN reports.
Suicide remains a serious public health concern in the U.S., and we know from research that certain groups have higher risk, including Veterans and LGBTQ+ youth. This is why these groups have dedicated services within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, where uniquely trained counselors help prevent suicide in these disproportionately impacted populations,” said Robert Gebbia, CEO of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “We understand that funding may be eliminated for 988 LGBTQ+ specialized services, and we urge the administration to continue its existing support for crisis services, including those for at-risk LGBTQ+ youth. These crisis response services are effective and save young lives.”
“I want to be clear to all LGBTQ+ young people," Jaymes Black said in a statement, "This news, while upsetting, is not final. And regardless of federal funding shifts, The Trevor Project remains available 24/7 for anyone who needs us, just as we always have.”
If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.
Trans Lifeline's hotline operating hours are Monday through Friday:
10 AM – 6 PM Pacific11 AM – 7 PM Mountain
12 PM – 8 PM Central
1 PM – 9 PM Eastern
US (877) 565-8860 CAN (877) 330-6366
Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
