LGBTQ+ Hotline Set to Relaunch, Faces Exclusion Concerns

WHO:

CNN - The Trevor Project, a leading nonprofit for suicide prevention in LGBTQ+ young people.

CNN - Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, chief medical officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

CNN - Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin.

CNN - Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project.

CNN - A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services.

CNN - Illinois Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi.

WHAT:

CNN - The Trump administration is moving to restart the specialized LGBTQ+ option for youth on the 988 crisis intervention hotline.

CNN - The “Press 3” option for LGBTQ+ youth was canceled by the Trump administration, which stated that funding had run out.

CNN - The “Press 3” option fielded 1.6 million contacts while it was operational, with The Trevor Project handling about half of the program’s traffic.

CNN - Congress directed officials to allocate $33 million toward LGBTQ+-specific interventions for youth.

CNN - The Trevor Project may not be allowed to offer the services it developed for the 988 Lifeline.

WHERE:

CNN - The 988 crisis intervention hotline, which is a national service.

WHEN:

CNN - The Trump administration aims to restore the LGBTQ+ option by the end of the year.

WHY:

CNN - The Trump administration ended the “Press 3” option due to funding issues.

CNN - Concerns have been raised about the exclusion of The Trevor Project, which is seen as a trusted resource for LGBTQ+ youth.

HOW:

CNN - The nonprofit that administers the 988 service, Vibrant Emotional Health, has called for applications to manage the return of the “Press 3” lines, limited to crisis centers that are current and active members of the 988 network.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 19:39 UTC)

The Trump administration is working to reinstate the specialized LGBTQ+ option for youth on the 988 crisis intervention hotline by the end of the year, a service that was previously canceled due to funding issues. This "Press 3" option, which handled 1.6 million contacts while operational, was a critical resource for LGBTQ+ youth, with The Trevor Project managing about half of its traffic. As Congress has directed officials to allocate $33 million toward LGBTQ+-specific interventions for youth, there are concerns about whether The Trevor Project will be able to offer the services it developed for the 988 Lifeline.