Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, Daniel Radcliffe and more have signed an open letter by The Trevor Project – the leading suicide prevention organisation for LGBTQ+ people – to protect federal funding for the 988 suicide hotline.
Content warning: This article deals with themes of suicide and highlights statistics on suicidality in young people. Reader discretion is advised.
The Trevor Project published an open letter on Monday (2 June) to protect an estimated $50 million in federal funding for the organisation’s partner, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services; it has been signed by more than 100 celebrities across the entertainment industry.
The letter from the organisation, which is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, is in response to a leaked budget from the United States government in April.
In it, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services planned to eliminate all funding for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention services through 988, a federal program that provides emergency crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth considering suicide.
The open letter, which is available to view on The Trevor Project‘s site, was signed by Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ Pedro Pascal, Wicked‘s Ariana Grande and more, including Dua Lipa, Alan Cumming, Bob the Drag Queen, Cara Delevigne, Diplo, Ethel Cain, Gus Kenworthy, Jonathan Van Ness, Josh Hutcherson, Orville Peck, Paris Hilton, Sabrina Carpenter and Troye Sivan.
The letter reads: “We are heartbroken by the proposal to eliminate federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services — a move that will have devastating, life-threatening consequences for young people across the country.
“As artists, creators, and public figures, our platforms come with responsibility. And today, that responsibility is clear: we must speak out to protect the mental health and lives of LGBTQ+ youth. We will not stay silent.”
The letter for The Trevor Projects calls on the US administration and Congress to “restore and protect funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.”
It concludes: “To every LGBTQ+ young person reading this: you are not alone. We see you. We value you. You have the right to feel safe, supported, and loved exactly as you are. You deserve access to life-saving services that honor your humanity. You may be hurting. You may be scared. You may feel like no one hears you — but we do. We will keep showing up and speaking out. We will not stop fighting for you.”
The letter remains open, with more names being added “on a rolling basis”
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project said in a statement: “I am deeply grateful to the influential voices in entertainment who are speaking out and reminding the public that suicide prevention is about people — not politics.
“It is clinical best practice for highly trained counselors to provide competent care to high-risk communities, including LGBTQ+ youth and veterans. LGBTQ+ young people disproportionately experience rejection, stigma, and discrimination, and are navigating a world that too often tells them they don’t belong.
“We must send a louder message back: millions of people are fighting for you to lead the happy, healthy lives you deserve. The Trevor Project will continue working with anyone committed to LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention and to protecting the federal funding that helps save young LGBTQ+ lives every day.”
According to the organisation, an estimated 1.3 million crisis contacts have been connected to 988’s crisis services. The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the United States seriously consider suicide each year, and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.
The Trevor Project is a main provider of 988’s LGBTQ+ youth specialised services, and serves nearly 50% of its contact volume. The nonprofit is at risk of losing an estimated $25 million in federal funds that power its ability to connect LGBTQ+ youth in crisis with life-saving services, should the budget go ahead.
After the budget initially leaked, more than 100 members of Congress urged RFK Jr, Trump’s secretary of health, not to close the helpline.
LGBTQ+ young people can still contact 988 for specialized crisis services. They may also contact The Trevor Project, 24/7 and for free. Individuals can take action by signing The Trevor Project’s petition to demand lawmakers protect LGBTQ+ youth.
Suicide is preventable. Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact theNational Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
Readers affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans free on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
The post Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, Daniel Radcliffe support LGBTQ+ suicide hotline: ‘We will not stay silent’ appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.