Trump Administration Shuts Down National LGBTQ+ Suicide Hotline

This story was originally reported by The 19th.

The national LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline will cease operations after three years, having handled 1.3 million texts and calls. The Trump administration announced the termination of LGBTQ+ specific services for 988, the crisis hotline launched in 2022.

The administration asserted that all contacts to the 988 Lifeline would continue to receive support from skilled crisis counselors for various emotional and mental health crises. Despite this reassurance, the statement did not clarify the rationale behind ending specialized services for LGBTQ+ callers.

LGBTQ+ rights organizations expressed deep concern, labeling this shift as detrimental to young queer Americans already facing harsh legislative challenges. Jaymes Black, CEO of the Trevor Project, condemned the decision, emphasizing that suicide prevention should prioritize people’s needs over political considerations. “This is devastating,” Black stated, calling the removal of effective, evidence-based support “incomprehensible.”

This announcement coincided with a pivotal Supreme Court ruling in United States vs. Skrmetti, which upheld a Tennessee law prohibiting gender-affirming care for transgender minors. This ruling may further entrench anti-trans medical bans affecting youth in 25 states and potentially compromise constitutional protections for transgender individuals.

Over the past five years, LGBTQ+ individuals have increasingly faced targeted policy and political assaults. In this climate, the 988 hotline was seen as a critical support system for vulnerable youth. However, recent administrative efforts to dismantle diversity and inclusion initiatives have broadly impacted LGBTQ+ support services.

The Trevor Project, which operates its own crisis line, collaborated with the federal government to handle about 50% of 988 calls, alongside six other providers. Last year alone, it managed approximately 231,000 crisis contacts.

Statistics reveal a stark reality: LGBTQ+ youth are over four times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their cisgender, straight counterparts. According to a 2023 survey by the Trevor Project, nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth reported having seriously considered suicide, with 41% of queer youth overall expressing similar sentiments.