LGBTQ+ Crisis Line Faces Political Roadblock

The Trump administration is pushing to reinstate a special 988 hotline option for LGBTQ+ youth — a service that let callers text “PRIDE” to connect with trained counselors — after Congress approved $33 million for LGBTQ+ youth interventions. But a major hurdle looms: The Trevor Project, the nonprofit that helped create and run the program, may be barred from participating because its suspension from the 988 network disqualifies it under current application rules. Advocates, including Dr. Christine Yu Moutier and Senator Tammy Baldwin, warn excluding such a vital, trauma-informed resource could severely harm vulnerable youth. Compounding the concern, administration officials hint at aligning the relaunch with anti-transgender policies, raising fears the service might exclude transgender and nonbinary youth — a group at drastically higher suicide risk. The Trevor Project says this could degrade clinical standards, though it continues operating its own dedicated crisis line. Experts and lawmakers are sounding the alarm: politics must not interfere with saving lives. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5397d22ea0b8104c