I can’t begin to express how deeply disgraced and heartbroken I am by the Trump administration’s decision to shut down the national LGBTQIA+ youth suicide hotline. This wasn’t just a phone number – it was a lifeline. For so many young queer people struggling to survive in a world that too often pushes them aside, that hotline was a place of hope, of safety, of being seen.
To take that away is not just cruel – it’s dangerous.
To any American LGBTQIA+ youth out there who feels lost, abandoned, or unseen right now: I see you. I hear you. I know this world can feel impossibly heavy sometimes, especially when those in power make choices that tell you your life, your identity, your existence doesn’t matter. But I want you to know: you do matter.
While that national resource may be gone, there are still places fighting to stay open and be here for you. You can still reach out to:
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The Trevor Project (24/7): 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
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Trans Lifeline (peer support for the trans community): 1-877-565-8860
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LGBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743
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And many local LGBTQIA+ centres and peer support groups that haven’t given up – because we won’t give up.
And to those in the UK who have been affected by this, you can reach out to the organisations below:
Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline
0300 330 0630
MindLine Trans+
0300 330 5468
Samaritans
116 123 (Free, 24/7)
LGBT Foundation
0345 3 30 30 30
Mermaids (for Trans Youth & Families)
0808 801 0400
And while I know I’m not a hotline, I want you to know I’m here. If you’re reading this and you’re hurting – please, reach out. You are not alone. You never have to go through this alone.
We will keep each other alive, no matter how hard they try to silence us.
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