Trump's Attack on LGBTQ+ Youth
A Devastating Blow to Lifesaving Support
When I came out as gay at 14 in 2006, I was very fortunate. I never contemplated suicide, but I know how isolating and terrifying it can feel to navigate your identity in a world that doesn’t always embrace you. I was lucky to have my parents, some of my friends, and critically teachers at my high school who stood up for me when I was bullied, even at a time, back in the mid-2000’s, when supporting an openly gay student could have been seen as controversial. Those educators were a lifeline, offering me the kind of support that every young person deserves: a safe space to be heard and valued. That’s why I’m heartbroken and outraged by the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services, a program that has been a beacon of hope for over 1.3 million young people since its inception in 2022.
This isn’t just a budget cut. It’s a deliberate attack on vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth, stripping away a critical resource for those who may have nowhere else to turn. The Trevor Project, a cornerstone of suicide prevention for queer youth, has been a key partner in this program, handling nearly half of the 231,000 crisis contacts in 2024 alone. Their work has been nothing short of lifesaving, providing counselors trained to understand the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth- challenges like stigma, discrimination, and rejection that drive disproportionately high suicide rates. The Trevor Project’s own data shows that 40% of LGBTQ+ youth considered suicide last year, and one in ten attempted it. To defund this service, especially during Pride Month, is not just callous- it’s a conscious violation of the “pro-life” principle this administration claims to promote.
I’ve written before about the power of community and safe spaces for young people. I’ve reflected in the past on how my high school teachers’ support gave me the courage to embrace my identity and advocate for others. That kind of support is exactly what the 988 hotline’s “Press 3” option provided- a direct line to someone who gets it, someone who can say, “You are not broken, you are loved exactly as you are.” For many LGBTQ+ youth, especially those in hostile environments, this hotline was a lifeline to counselors who understand their struggles without judgment. The Trump administration’s claim that the general 988 hotline is sufficient ignores the reality that specialized care is often the difference between life and death for these kids.
This decision is part of a broader pattern of hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community under Trump’s second term. The administration has also targeted funding for vital community resources, like the Los Angeles LGBT Center, one of the largest and most impactful organizations of its kind. In recent years, federal grants to such centers have supported mental health services, housing programs, and youth outreach- services that are now at risk as the administration pushes to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts indiscriminately, across the board. The LA LGBT Center has been a haven for countless young people, offering everything from counseling to shelter to safe spaces to for self-expression. Cutting these funds doesn’t just hurt individuals; it undermines the infrastructure that holds our communities together.
Equally troubling is the administration’s alignment with policies like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” laws. These laws silence teachers and counselors, preventing them from offering the kind of support I was fortunate to receive in high school. They send a message to LGBTQ+ students that their identities are shameful, pushing them further into isolation. The defunding of the LGBTQ+ hotline amplifies this harm, signaling to young people that their struggles don’t matter. When you combine this with the administration’s other actions- like supporting a federal ban on gender-affirming care for youth- which eliminates individual rights and the libertarian, small government philosophy many MAGA followers espouse- and erasing mentions of gay/bi/trans identities from federal websites- it’s clear this is a coordinated effort to marginalize and erase our community’s most vulnerable members.
The Trevor Project, despite this devastating blow, continues to fight. Their independent hotline (1-866-488-7386) remains operational, and they’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign to offset the loss of federal dollars. But they can’t do it alone. The 988 program’s LGBTQ+ subnetwork, which includes seven organizations, handled an average of 2,100 contacts daily in February 2025. No single nonprofit can replicate that scale without sustained support. Congress must act NOW to restore this funding, and we must demand it. To use a phrase I’ve utilized int the past: Our fight for equality is only as strong as our commitment to the most vulnerable among us. That commitment is being tested now, and we cannot afford to fail.
To every LGBTQ+ young person reading this: You are not alone. You are worthy, you are loved, and you belong. The Trevor Project and countless advocates are fighting for you, just as my teachers, parents and many of my friends fought for me. But we need more than words- we need action. Call your representatives. Support The Trevor Project at TheTrevorProject.org/ActNow. And let’s send a clear message to this administration: Our youth are not pawns in your political games. Their lives are worth saving.