Suicide hotlines save lives. Each life is sacred, and we must do everything in our power to ensure LGBTQ+ kids feel like they have a future worth living for. That is why we are calling on Congress to restore funding for the LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention hotline.  

In July 2025, the administration defunded the LGBTQ+ youth-specific hotline, placing millions of queer lives at risk. We know LGBTQ+ youth disproportionately struggle with their mental health because of the discrimination, hate, and stigma towards them. According to the Trevor Project, 12% of LGBTQ+ kids attempted suicide in the last year. 39% of LGBTQ+ youth and 46% of trans and nonbinary youth seriously considered committing suicide. Rates are even higher for youth of color. With lack of accessible mental health care due to high costs and stigma, suicide hotlines are a free, accessible way to manage mental health crises.  

Since its inception in 2022, calls to the hotline have continually increased. 1.6 million children have called this hotline in the last four years. That’s 1,600,000 individual lives that have likely been saved by this holy work. Their experiences are unique and require an informed, compassionate approach that takes their sexual orientation and gender identity into account. When handling a delicate situation of a child on the precipice of suicide, there is no time to waste.  

The United Church of Christ affirms every queer and trans child is created in God’s beautiful, divine image. It is holy work to make sure each child knows their inherent worth and how loved they are, both by God and by us.  

This World Suicide Prevention Day and Suicide Prevention Month, demand that Congress immediately reinstate the LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention hotline and that the administration restore its funding. Kids’ lives depend on it.