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In a move sparking national outcry, the Trump Administration has proposed eliminating federal funding for a vital lifeline for Queer youth in crisis. A leaked draft budget, obtained by The Washington Post, reveals plans to cut all funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services—effective October 1st, 2025.

This program, which provides identity-affirming crisis support for queer and trans young people, is currently funded through the Department of Health and Human Services. Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, didn’t mince words: “Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity. Ending the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth specialized services will not just strip away access from millions of LGBTQ+ kids and teens – it will put their lives at risk.”

Black reminded viewers that these services were implemented under a Republican administration and had broad bipartisan support. The statistics are sobering. Every 45 seconds, a queer youth in the U.S. attempts suicide. Over 1.8 million queer and trans young people seriously consider it each year.

The specialized services have already reached more than 1.2 million people. But the political climate clearly matters. The Trevor Project saw a 33% spike in crisis contacts on the day of Trump’s inauguration—and a staggering 700% increase the day after the 2016 election.

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Happening Out Television Network