Sound the Alarm: Pleading for the Preservation of the LGBTQ+ Suicide Hotline
Famous figures such as Ariana Grande back the helpline for the LGBTQ+ community.
Berlin (dpa) - A horde of famous faces, including pop sensation Ariana Grande (31), socialite Paris Hilton (44), and acting legend Jamie Lee Curtis (66), have united in support of safeguarding the essential LGBTQ+ suicide hotline in the US. These celebs have lent their signatures to an impassioned open letter from charity organization "The Trevor Project," urging for the continuous funding of the service. Desperate queer youth can find solace and guidance in the face of suicidal thoughts by dialing 988.
It appears that the lifeline's generous financial backing is under fire. The letter unequivocally declares its shock over the prospect of stripping federal funding for the LGBTQ+-specific services of the 988 suicide and crisis hotline. Such a decision would surely inflict irreversible damage on youth across the nation. "This is about people, not politics," it emphasizes.
Astonishing Success Statistics
According to the open letter, since its inception in 2022, the service has managed to provide assistance to more than 1.3 million youth grappling with suicidal thoughts. Statistically speaking, over 1.8 million queer youth battle such thoughts annually[1]. As revealed by US broadcaster "CBS," The Trevor Project addresses half of the calls to the hotline[2].
The acronym LGBTQ+ represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, with the ‘+’ symbol symbolizing additional identities and genders.
- The Trevor Project's open letter, signed by celebrities like Ariana Grande, Paris Hilton, and Jamie Lee Curtis, stresses the significance of maintaining federal funding for the LGBTQ+ suicide hotline, arguing that the potential withdrawal could cause immense harm to youth nationwide.
- In the letter, the charity organization highlights the remarkable success achieved by the hotline since its launch in 2022, having extended aid to over 1.3 million distressed youth confronting suicidal thoughts.
- Being aware of the vital role it plays in the mental health and wellness of the LGBTQ+ community, The Trevor Project constitutes a major part of the health-and-wellness sector, alongside entertainment and celebrity outreach, in promoting mental health awareness and support.
