LA County Fights to Restore LGBTQ Youth Hotline

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBTQ Politics

LAS VEGAS, NV — (December 9, 2025) — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to reinstate specialized suicide-prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth, after federal officials abruptly eliminated funding for the lifesaving hotline feature earlier this year.

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Since 2022, individuals in crisis have been able to reach the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In 2023, the service expanded to include a “Press 3” option, connecting LGBTQ+ youth to trained counselors offering identity-affirming support through The Trevor Project.

But in July, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration cut funding for the LGBTQ-specific line, removing the option and sparking national criticism from advocacy groups.

“We Will Not Turn Our Backs”

Supervisor Janice Hahn said restoring the service is essential to protecting vulnerable youth.

“The Press 3 option was a lifeline, and losing it has been devastating,” Hahn said. It wasn’t just a policy change — it was a message to LGBTQ+ young people that their needs didn’t matter. But L.A. County will not turn its back on our LGBTQ+ young people. Not now, not ever.”

The board approved two motions Tuesday — one from Hahn and one from Supervisor Lindsey Horvath — directing the Department of Mental Health to develop a local pilot version of the “Press 3” service under county authority.

A Service LGBTQ Youth Trusted

Before funding was eliminated, more than 14% of the 5.1 million people who dialed 988 in the previous year accessed the LGBTQ+ counseling option.

“Eliminating the ‘Press 3’ option on the 988 Lifeline is a dangerous decision,” Horvath said. “Young people face disproportionate challenges… taking away this critical resource is unacceptable.”

Officials emphasized that LGBTQ+ youth remain at significantly higher risk of suicide, and trained support can save lives — especially when young callers may fear stigma or rejection elsewhere.

State and Federal Push for Permanent Protection

A second Board motion puts L.A. County’s support behind new federal legislation that would codify the “Press 3” option into law nationwide — ensuring the service cannot be removed again due to politics or funding shifts.

At the state level, California Assemblymember Mark González is also advancing legislation to restore the hotline statewide.

“Lives are on the line,” González said. “Before this reckless cut, 1.5 million contacts were made to Press 3 because LGBTQ+ youth trust this lifeline.”

Local officials say they will continue working with state and federal partners to secure long-term protections for LGBTQ+ youth crisis services.

A Lifeline Worth Fighting For

The Board’s message was clear: support for LGBTQ+ youth must not depend on shifting political winds.

As Horvath noted,

“Every young person deserves to be heard, supported and safe.”

Stay connected with JRL CHARTS LGBT Politics for ongoing updates on legislation, mental-health access, and efforts to protect LGBTQ+ youth nationwide.

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