As 988 lifeline ends LGBTQ+ service, Ohio group warns of risks for youth
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A leading central Ohio LGBTQ+ organization is sounding the alarm after the Trump administration eliminated specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
The decision went into effect last week and removes the option for young people to 'Press 3' when calling 988, connecting them with counselors trained in LGBTQ+ issues. Amanda Erickson, senior associate director of programs and operations at Kaleidoscope Youth Center, condemned the move, citing the compounding impact of federal and state policies rolling back LGBTQ+ protections.
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'It's really awful that this is the direction that we're seeing some of our policies going federally and statewide,' Erickson said. 'The risk there is that, when a young person is calling this 988 hotline, knowing that it's an appropriate place for them to get support, they're not necessarily able to access the very tailored support that might help them if something about their identity is the core of an issue.'
Launched alongside 988 in 2022, the 'Press 3' option was created given LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of depression and are more likely to attempt suicide, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. Further, research from The Trevor Project shows that nearly 40% of all LGBTQ+ youth have thought about or attempted suicide. Erickson said removal of Press 3 means callers may now be routed to someone lacking that understanding.
'They might reach a counselor or therapist that is not as up to date on LGBTQ+ issues as they could be,' Erickson said. 'They're losing that kind of tailored support.'
Since the change, Kaleidoscope and other Ohio groups are working to ensure LGBTQ+ youth are still connected to care, Erickson said. She noted that TransOhio, a statewide trans-led organization, maintains an up-to-date list of support groups, and Kaleidoscope regularly includes crisis numbers in communications, on its website and social media.
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'We have a plethora of resources in central Ohio and statewide that folks can still access,' she said. 'I think the complicated part is remembering that all of those exist, and finding out how to get in contact with them, because 988 was such a huge opportunity to have an easy number like 911 to be able to share with folks.'
The elimination of Press 3 follows a wave of legislation deemed 'anti-LGBTQ+' in Ohio, from restrictions on certain healthcare for trans youth to limitations on how sexuality can be discussed in schools. Erickson also expressed concern about the impact of recent Supreme Court rulings, one that upheld another state's gender-affirming care ban and another that said parents can remove their students from school lessons with LGBTQ+ books.
'One of them essentially gave parents the right to remove their kids from classes and the other one removed a parent's right to access healthcare for their children,' said Erickson. 'When the legislature or the judicial system is using terms like 'parents' rights,' I think it's important for people to recognize which parents get those rights.'
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The combination of eroded representation, disappearing services and targeted legislation leaves LGBTQ+ youth feeling increasingly isolated, Erickson said. Despite the setbacks, she said Kaleidoscope remains committed to helping youth find the care they need through local resources.
'We try to keep up to date resources on our website, knowing that we're only open a couple hours a day,' she said. 'Youth can find our social media or our website and access those national crisis numbers.'
Kaleidoscope's drop-in center is open from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Learn more and view resources, including national crisis phone numbers, at www.kycohio.org. Learn more about TransOhio and its list of emergency resources at www.transohio.org.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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