“LGBTQ+ Youth Could Lose Access to Life-Saving Crisis Support - What’s at Risk, and How You Can Help Stop It”

Morgan Messick
May 23
4 min read

LGBTQ+ youth are among the most vulnerable and targeted communities in the country. And now, they’re under attack - again.

A leaked draft budget from the current administration proposes allegedly cutting funding for the LGBTQ+ youth crisis services within the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a program that has answered over 1.2 million calls, texts, and chats since launching in 2022. If this proposal moves forward, those specialized services could vanish as early as October 2025.

Let’s be clear: this is not just a policy decision to cut “wasteful government spending” - it’s potential, if pushed through, a direct threat to young lives.

LGBTQ+ Youth and Mental Health: A Crisis That Cannot Be Ignored

The data is unambiguous. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 14 and the third among youth ages 15 to 24. LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.

The Trevor Project estimates that over 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth seriously consider suicide each year. At least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.

These outcomes are not rooted in identity - they are rooted in rejection, stigma, and systemic neglect. Access to inclusive, affirming support systems dramatically reduces suicide risk. Stripping away those systems will push the numbers higher.

And the numbers are already devastating.

To understand more about how systemic harm impacts queer and trans youth, explore our coverage on anti-trans policies in America.

The Role of the 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services

The 988 Lifeline was designed to serve at-risk populations - including veterans, non-English speakers, and LGBTQ+ youth - through trained counselors who understand the distinct challenges each group faces.

In September 2022, The Trevor Project began providing LGBTQ+-specific services through 988. Callers could “press 3” or text “PRIDE” to connect with counselors trained to support LGBTQ+ identities. That partnership expanded into a nationwide subnetwork of seven service providers, with The Trevor Project managing nearly half of all LGBTQ+ crisis contacts within 988.

In 2024 alone, The Trevor Project served over 231,000 contacts through 988 and trained more than 250 crisis counselors and support staff.

The program was implemented with bipartisan support. It was signed into law by President Trump. Eliminating it now is not a question of fiscal necessity - it is a political decision with predictable, deadly consequences.

As The Trevor Project’s CEO Jaymes Black stated:

“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.”

So What’s Really at Stake Here?

This isn’t about one program. It’s about whether LGBTQ+ youth in this country are allowed to survive.

Every available metric tells us that queer and trans youth face disproportionate levels of bullying, family rejection, homelessness, and psychological distress. According to national studies, up to 40% of unhoused youth identify as LGBTQ+. The vast majority report being forced out of their homes because of their identity.

These youth are not looking for special treatment. They are asking to be heard by someone who understands them. For many, 988 is the only place they can turn when they reach their breaking point.

To eliminate this support is to deny the reality of who is most at risk—and to intentionally leave them without a net. This is not inevitable - but stopping it requires swift action.

Here’s What You Can Do to Help

If we don’t act now, this lifeline will disappear. Here’s what you can do to help stop it:

Call Your Representatives ImmediatelyUrge them to reject any proposal that cuts LGBTQ+ services from the 988 Lifeline. Ask them to reaffirm their commitment to protecting young people in crisis. Reference this Senate statement to support your message.
Back the Organizations Saving Lives :Support the groups already doing this work:
Fund the Gaps This Cut Would CreateDonate to housing initiatives and charities for LGBTQ+ youth that provide food, shelter, therapy, and support to young people pushed out of homes and systems that refuse to protect them.
Educate the Adults Who Still Don’t Get It Point parents, educators, and leaders toward resources for parents of LGBTQ+ youth and advocate for affirming curriculum in schools. Visibility saves lives. So does understanding.
Refuse to Let This Fade from ViewThis story should not slip quietly out of the news cycle. Keep it alive. Talk about it at work. Bring it up at school boards and community meetings. Share it wherever decisions are being made.

Additional Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth

While the proposed cuts are not yet final, the crisis facing LGBTQ+ youth is real - and it’s happening right now. Regardless of what the government decides, our responsibility is unchanged: make sure every young person knows they are not alone, and there is help available now.

If you or someone you know needs immediate support, these organizations are trained, affirming, and available 24/7: