Fears are mounting amongst LGBTQ+ advocates in Massachusetts as the Trump administration has announced its intention to cut a crucial program from the national suicide and crisis hotline. The program, known as the “Press 3" option, provided targeted support for LGBTQ+ youth in need. In a statement obtained by CBS News Boston, Mark Henson, Interim Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, expressed the organization's concern over the looming end of federal funding for their section of the hotline. Henson emphasized, "Suicide prevention is about people, it's not about politics."
According to a report by CBS News Boston, The Trevor Project, which piloted and operated the LGBTQ+ portion of the 988 hotline, could see a demand surge if the expected discontinuation of funding takes place. Experiencing a deep sense of unacceptance in their states, LGBTQ+ kids have been given a beacon of hope through programs like Summer of Sass that enables them to spend summers in Provincetown. Founder Kristen Becker, in a past interview with WBZ-TV, stresses the urgency and necessity of suicide prevention initiatives.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defended its decision, aiming to "maximize efficiency" by removing the specialized service for LGBTQ+ youth. However, in a sharp rebuke, The Trevor Project's CEO Jaymes Black highlighted the insensitive timing and the erasure of transgender individuals in their statement, "The fact that this news comes to us halfway through Pride Month is callous — as is the administration’s choice to remove the ‘T’ from the acronym ‘LGBTQ+’ in their announcement. Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased," Black said, as reported by POLITICO.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York has criticized the administration's decision, noting the elevated risk of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth and the importance of the hotline as a resource. "This is wrong," Lawler wrote on X, pointing out the necessity for ensuring that essential resources are available for those in crisis, as detailed by POLITICO. Disappointingly, when pursued for further comments, the White House directed inquirers back to SAMHSA’s original statement, even as HHS had signaled its intention to withdraw hotline funding in its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.
As it stands, the crucial "Press 3" option is set to be discontinued on July 17, potentially leaving numerous LGBTQ+ young people without an invaluable lifeline, that for some, has been the sole source of solace and sustenance through their most challenging moments. The Trevor Project’s studies have shown that in Massachusetts, 39% of LGBTQ+ young people considered suicide in the past year, and the national hotline has received approximately 1.3 million calls since the launch of its pilot program in 2022. The decision to end this specific support to LGBTQ+ youth is met with trepidation and resistance, as advocates and allies rally for the continuation of these lifesaving services.
