We Aren’t Going Anywhere: Our Response to Cuts to 988’s LGBTQ+ Youth Service
September 8, 2025
The Trump Administration has rolled back funding for LGBTQ+ specific services on the 988 hotline service, as part of their broader slew of executive orders attacking queer rights and “DEI” efforts. In accordance with these federal mandates, on July 17, 2025, SAMHSA announced that the 988 hotline would “no longer silo LGB[TQ]+ youth services, also known as the ‘Press 3 option,’ – ultimately getting rid of the services specialized for LGBTQ+ youth. Since this announcement, Trans Lifeline has repeatedly been asked how these cuts will impact Trans people and our work specifically. We have had the opportunity to step back and examine how the cuts to 988 will impact the community that we continue to serve. Here is our response:
From the very beginning of our organization, Trans Lifeline has always been resourced by our community and allies. In keeping true to our principles, we have never accepted nor received federal funding, which would make us beholden to federally mandated standards of “care.” As an organization, we have recognized time and time again that the federal government rarely provides life-affirming support to the Trans community. The law most often resorts to handling crises with punitive and controlling tactics that put our community in harm’s way, ultimately increasing suicidality and marginalization. At Trans Lifeline, we believe that Trans people deserve non-judgemental and compassionate support that is consensual, culturally sensitive, and truly safe for our community.
While 988 has been able to offer resources for many in our Trans and Queer communities, it has also perpetuated harm through its use of non-consensual police and hospital interventions. To date, 988 has refused to divest from non-consensual and carceral approaches to suicide intervention and crisis response. We continue to hear stories from Trans community members who have called 988 and as a result have had violent and troubling encounters with police, ranging from law enforcement showing up to their location to being carelessly misgendered, assaulted, and stripped of their liberties and dignity. These experiences reflect and reinforce the harsh reality that for Trans people (especially those with intersecting marginalized identities), interactions with the system can be traumatizing and deeply dehumanizing. We have always encouraged Trans and Queer people who use 988 to do so with full knowledge of the potential for harmful experiences.
Last year we released “The Problem with 988” report that critically examines the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, revealing how policies intended for crisis support often compromise safety, privacy, and autonomy – contributing to a growing pipeline from suicide hotlines to systems of punishment. As a result of this report, we directly interfaced with many of the leaders and administrators of 988 – and were able to recognize not only their good intentions but their perspective on crisis care which has been shaped by a social system that centers a false dichotomy in which it is more important to reduce legal liability for crisis intervention services than to honor the needs and consent of the people experiencing suicidal crisis. At Trans Lifeline, we know that honoring individual autonomy and resourcing people to support themselves and each other is far more effective at saving lives than putting people in jail cells or confining them to hospitals under the guise of care.
Through our advocacy efforts, we have recognized that the well-meaning folks at 988 have made improvements to their work and become more sensitive to the needs of our community. We are deeply disappointed that they no longer have the opportunity to continue growing in their understanding and service to our community. Another resource for support for the Trans community has been stripped in the ongoing effort to erase us.
But we aren’t going anywhere.
What is true for us:
Trans Lifeline is receiving more calls than ever; at least partly due to the Trump administration’s constant assault on our people. Not only are our calls increasing, but the severity of the content of the calls is also increasing. Our community is unsure of what their future under this administration looks like, and we are feeling the intensity of that fear and rage.
We have been expanding our capacity to better serve our community: hiring more call operators, creating systems and schedules to answer the most significant number of calls possible, and fundraising to increase our capacity to support transgender individuals who need help.
Organizations like ours have faced severe underfunding; Last year we navigated the financial fallout from major corporations pulling out from supporting our work (due to federal pressure). Yet, we have continued to provide needed services to Trans people in crisis and we will continue to do so. In keeping true with our grassroots origins, we will continue to rely on community support and allyship. This is the hope that will keep us going and we are committed to keep going.
*We encourage people to invest in resources that support and care for the LGBTQ+ people in ways that do not recreate harm. If organizations like Trans Lifeline were funded to the level that 988 has been, we would be able to provide 24/7 service and the type of support that we know our community needs.
