"Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Arkansas Republican Lisa Murkowski introduced legislation to counteract the Trump administration's "lethal" decision to close the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's specialised service lifeline extension for LGBTQ+ youth. The specialised lifeline, known as the 'Press 3' options, provided emergency support for distressed LGBTQ+ youngsters by connecting them to appropriate suicide-prevention organisations. US president Donald Trump closed the lifeline, which actively supported millions of young people since 2022, in July this year under a series of budget cuts to public spending."
""We are in the middle of a mental health crisis, and the 988 lifeline saves lives, plain and simple," the first out gay US senator said. "There is absolutely no good reason that Donald Trump took away this specialised help for our LGBTQ+ youth. "Mental health does not see partisan lines or geography, and I'm proud to be working with Democrats and Republicans to do what's right and ensure that all kids have access to the help they need - regardless of who is president.""
Senators Tammy Baldwin and Lisa Murkowski introduced the 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act to restore and codify the specialised 'Press 3' extension of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The 'Press 3' option routed LGBTQ+ youngsters in crisis to suicide-prevention organizations that provided tailored emergency support. The specialised extension operated since 2022 and reportedly served millions before its closure in July amid federal budget cuts. The proposed law would enshrine the service in federal statute and seeks to ensure nationwide access to crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth regardless of political leadership.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
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