Over 100 Celebrities Urge Congress to Protect LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Hotline Funding

More than 100 celebrities, including Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Pedro Pascal, Daniel Radcliffe, and Dwyane Wade, have signed an open letter organized by The Trevor Project urging President Donald Trump and Congress to maintain federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services. The letter expresses deep concern over a proposed budget cut in the Trump administration’s 2026 fiscal plan that would eliminate this lifesaving program, which has connected nearly 1.3 million LGBTQ+ youth with crisis support since its launch in 2022. Signatories emphasize that suicide among LGBTQ+ youth is a serious public health crisis, with these young people being more than four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers, and argue that cutting the funding would send a harmful message that their lives are not valued. The letter calls on lawmakers to set aside politics and agree that no young person should be left without help in their darkest moment. The Trevor Project highlights that over 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth seriously consider suicide annually, and the specialized services have been crucial in providing affirming and inclusive crisis care. Advocates warn that without this funding, many queer and trans youth could lose access to critical support during times of crisis, and the celebrities pledge to continue speaking out to protect their mental health and lives.