The Trevor Project faced one of its most significant challenges on July 17, 2026, when the Trump administration abruptly terminated the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program. This program had provided specialized support to LGBTQ+ youth under the age of 25 through the 988 Lifeline, the federal suicide prevention hotline. Young people could connect with trained counselors by “pressing three,” “texting PRIDE,” or using online chat.
Since 2026, the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth specialized services had been a critical resource for some of the highest-risk groups for suicide, including veterans and LGBTQ+ youth. The sudden elimination of these services left more than 1.5 million LGBTQ+ young people without access to life-saving support during their most vulnerable moments.
The Community’s Swift and Powerful Response
The decision to cut these services was met with shock and dismay. However, it also sparked an unprecedented mobilization of support. The Trevor Project launched an Emergency Lifeline Campaign for LGBTQ+ Youth raising over $20.4 million from approximately 26,000 supporters. This outpouring of support demonstrated the community’s unwavering commitment to protecting LGBTQ+ youth.
The campaign also secured more than 53,000 signatures on a petition to protect the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth specialized services. Additionally, over 100 members of the United States Congress expressed their support for restoring funding for these vital services. A powerful open letter signed by more than 100 celebrities and influencers, including Ariana GrandePedro PascalSabrina CarpenterJamie Lee CurtisDwyane WadeGabrielle Union-WadeDaniel Radcliffe and Dua Lipa further amplified the call for action.
Partnerships and Legislative Efforts
The Trevor Project also partnered with state agencies in California and Illinois to begin training general 988 Lifeline counselors in LGBTQ+ crisis competency. These partnerships aim to ensure that counselors are equipped to provide culturally competent care to LGBTQ+ youth. Efforts are underway to secure additional state partnerships in the future.
Legislative efforts have also been crucial in the fight to restore these services. Thanks to bipartisan support, Congress has directed the administration to restore $33.1 million in funding for the 988 Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth. However, concerns remain about how these services will be implemented under the current administration, particularly in light of a anti-transgender executive order that prohibits the recognition of any gender identity beyond cisgender men and cisgender women.
The Impact of the Anti-Transgender Executive Order
The 988 Lifeline’s specialized services were created to provide tailored support to groups at the highest risk for suicide, including LGBTQ+ young people. Transgender youth face some of the highest rates of suicide risk of any group in the U.S. The administration’s requirement that “Press 3” services comply with the anti-transgender executive order raises serious concerns about the inclusivity and effectiveness of these services.
The Trevor Project remains vigilant in monitoring the potential restoration of the 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” services. The organization’s team of experts is ready to support anyone who wants to provide LGBTQ+ young people with the culturally competent crisis care they need. However, the gap in crisis care for LGBTQ+ young people remains severe, and continued efforts are necessary to fill this critical need.
The Ongoing Crisis and The Trevor Project’s Mission
Research indicates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth (ages 13 to 24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S, with at least one attempt every 45 seconds. Despite this alarming statistic, nearly half (44%) of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year were unable to access it. This severe gap in care is fueling the crisis of suicide among LGBTQ+ young people.
The Trevor Project’s mission has remained steadfast over its 28-year history: to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people. This mission is not about any single institution, program, or method of providing crisis care; it is about ensuring that LGBTQ+ young people can reach a specially trained, compassionate crisis counselor the moment they experience a crisis. The political environment may be volatile, but The Trevor Project’s commitment to serving every LGBTQ+ young person who needs support through their darkest moments remains unshakable.
The organization’s counselors are available 24/7/365 for any young person who needs them. The Trevor Project will never stop fighting to create a world where all LGBTQ+ young people feel safe, supported, and loved exactly as they are.
