After the federal government abruptly ended a key mental health support for LGBTQ+ youth, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has stepped in to ensure crisis care doesn’t disappear for queer and trans residents across the Pennsylvania.
Earlier this summer, the Trump administration let a specialized option on the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline expire. The service, activated by pressing “3”, connected LGBTQ+ youth under 25 with trained crisis counselors who understood their experiences. That service had been used by nearly 1.6 million callers since it launched in 2022, making up 11% of the hotline’s total call volume.
But when the $33 million in federal funding ran out this July, the program was not renewed. Unlike the Biden administration, which previously stepped in to continue funding when resources ran short, the Trump administration declined to allocate additional support. No formal explanation was given, but the move fits within a broader pattern of anti-LGBTQ+ policy shifts coming from the President and his allies.
In response, Governor Shapiro directed the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to train all 988 operators in the state to handle calls from LGBTQ+ people in crisis ensuring that queer and trans residents continue to have access to affirming care, even without federal support.
“All calls to 988 from within Pennsylvania are now routed to one of 14 in-state call centers,” a DHS spokesperson said. “Staff at those centers have been trained to provide culturally competent support to LGBTQ+ callers and connect them with resources like The Trevor Project when appropriate.”
The Trevor Project, a national organization that provides crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth, had previously operated as one of seven service providers answering 988 calls from queer and trans young people. According to their team, the loss of federal funding has already led to over 200 staff being cut. Despite this, their 24/7 hotline, text, and chat services remain active and available.
“The federal government is playing politics with young people’s lives,” said Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black in a statement following the cutoff. “Every young person’s life is worth saving.”
While the federal Department of Health and Human Services has said that the 988 Lifeline remains available to everyone in crisis, it has changed how it refers to LGBTQ+ communities, shifting from “LGBTQI+” in past statements to “LGB+” in more recent communications. That language change follows an executive order from Donald Trump that redefines gender federally as exclusively male or female and reverses a number of LGBTQ+-inclusive policies, including the ability to select a gender-neutral “X” marker on U.S. passports.
Even though the automated “press 3” option is no longer available nationwide, Pennsylvania operators are trained to stay on the line with LGBTQ+ callers and facilitate warm handoffs to The Trevor Project or other affirming mental health services.
In a political climate where LGBTQ+ youth are increasingly targeted through legislation, school bans, and public rhetoric, access to mental health support can be a matter of life and death.
Need help now?
Call or text 988. If you’re in Pennsylvania, your call will be routed to trained professionals who understand LGBTQ+ issues and can connect you to resources like The Trevor Project.
