The Trump administration has officially shut down the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ Youth Specialized Services program, which offered LGBTQ-trained crisis counselors for callers under 25. Nearly 1.5 million people used the “Press 3” option since its launch in 2022.
Critics, including The Trevor Project and bipartisan lawmakers, say this move puts LGBTQ youth at greater risk — a group already four times more likely to consider suicide.
While federal support ends, resources like TheTrevorProject.org remain, and states like California are stepping in with new LGBTQ-inclusive training for 988 counselors. More here from NBCOut.com