‘We will not stay silent': Ariana Grande and Pedro Pascal among supporters of LGBTQ+ suicide lifeline
Pedro Pascal, Ariana Grande and Jamie Lee Curtis are among the names included on an open letter aimed at protecting federal funds for LGBTQ+ suicide prevention.
In collaboration with nonprofit organisation The Trevor Project, the letter has been released during Pride month and also features names such as Dua Lipa, Daniel Radcliffe, Troye Sivan, Sabrina Carpenter and Nathan Lane.
'As artists, creators, and public figures, our platforms come with responsibility,' the letter reads. 'And today, that responsibility is clear: we must speak out to protect the mental health and lives of LGBTQ+ youth. We will not stay silent.'
It follows reports of a proposal to eliminate funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ youth specialized services. Since its implementation in 2022, it's provided help to over 14m people. LGBTQ+ people are roughly four times more likely to kill themselves than their peers.
'This is about people, not politics,' the letter reads. 'At a time of deep division, let this be something we as people can all agree on: no young person should be left without help in their darkest moment. Stripping away this lifeline leaves LGBTQ+ youth with the message that their lives are not worth saving. We refuse to accept that message.'
The letter calls on the administration and Congress to 'restore and protect' funding in the 2026 budget. 'You may be hurting,' the letter reads. 'You may be scared. You may feel like no one hears you – but we do. We will keep showing up and speaking out. We will not stop fighting for you.'
Pascal, Grande and Curtis have all been vocal allies with LGBTQ+ family members. Pascal, who has a transgender sister, recently called JK Rowling a 'heinous loser' in response to her transphobic views.
The list of names on the letter, which also includes Diplo, Sarah Paulson and Cara Delevingne, will continue to be updated on a rolling basis.
In a statement, Trevor Project CEO Jamyes Black added: 'I am deeply grateful to the influential voices in entertainment who are speaking out and reminding the public that suicide prevention is about people – not politics.'
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