Latest news with #988
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pedro Pascal, Dua Lipa, Daniel Radcliffe among celebs calling on Trump to preserve funding for LGBTQ suicide hotline
More than 100 celebrities across the entertainment industry are calling on President Trump's administration to protect an LGBTQ youth crisis service's funding amid broader spending cuts. An internal budget document first reported by The Washington Post would eliminate specialized services for LGBTQ youth who contact 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a proposal that would have 'devastating, life-threatening consequences for young people across the country,' reads an open letter organized and published Monday by the Trevor Project, a nonprofit group that responds to roughly half of 988's calls and texts from LGBTQ youth. 'As artists, creators, and public figures, our platforms come with responsibility. 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,' states the letter, with signatures from actors Pedro Pascal, Daniel Radcliffe, Margaret Cho and Sarah Paulson. Musicians, including Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Diplo and Dua Lipa also signed, alongside notable figures including influencer Dylan Mulvaney, celebrity chef Amanda Freitag and Carl Nassib, a former defensive lineman and the first NFL player to publicly come out as gay. 'This is about people, not politics,' the letter states. '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. We call on the administration and Congress to do the right thing: restore and protect funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.' 'We rise together — loudly and determined — for hope, for dignity, and for every LGBTQ+ young person to know that their lives are worthy and that there will always be someone on the other end of the line,' the letter states. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. The service for LGBTQ youth has received nearly 1.3 million calls, texts and online chat messages since its launch in 2022, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In February, the program received an average of 2,100 crisis contacts daily. More than 100 House Democrats — and two Republicans, in a separate letter — have also urged the Trump administration to spare 988's specialized services for LGBTQ youth from funding cuts, arguing that such a move would have 'lethal consequences if enacted.' The proposed cuts, which need approval from Congress, would not take effect until October. Trump signed the bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Designation Act in October 2020, and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline officially launched in 2022 under former President Biden's administration. Congress increased funding for the hotline's LGBTQ youth specialized services last year on a bipartisan basis. '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,' Jaymes Black, the Trevor Project's CEO, said in a statement on Monday. 'LGBTQ+ young people disproportionately experience rejection, stigma, and discrimination, and are navigating a world that too often tells them they don't belong. We must send a louder message back: millions of people are fighting for you to lead the happy, healthy lives you deserve,' Black said. A report released by the group last year found that 39 percent of LGBTQ 13- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. considered suicide over the past year, including 46 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth. Half of LGBTQ young people who wanted mental health care said they were unable to access it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Pedro Pascal, Dua Lipa, Daniel Radcliffe among celebs calling on Trump to preserve funding for LGBTQ suicide hotline
More than 100 celebrities across the entertainment industry are calling on President Trump's administration to protect an LGBTQ youth crisis service's funding amid broader spending cuts. An internal budget document first reported by The Washington Post would eliminate specialized services for LGBTQ youth who contact 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a proposal that would have 'devastating, life-threatening consequences for young people across the country,' reads an open letter organized and published Monday by the Trevor Project, a nonprofit group that responds to roughly half of 988's calls and texts from LGBTQ youth. 'As artists, creators, and public figures, our platforms come with responsibility. 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,' states the letter, with signatures from actors Pedro Pascal, Daniel Ratcliffe, Margaret Cho and Sarah Paulson. Musicians, including Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Diplo and Dua Lipa also signed, alongside notable figures including influencer Dylan Mulvaney, celebrity chef Amanda Freitag and Carl Nassib, a former defensive lineman and the first NFL player to publicly come out as gay. 'This is about people, not politics,' the letter states. '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. We call on the administration and Congress to do the right thing: restore and protect funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.' 'We rise together — loudly and determined — for hope, for dignity, and for every LGBTQ+ young person to know that their lives are worthy and that there will always be someone on the other end of the line,' the letter states. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. The service for LGBTQ youth has received nearly 1.3 million calls, texts and online chat messages since its launch in 2022, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In February, the program received an average of 2,100 crisis contacts daily. More than 100 House Democrats — and two Republicans, in a separate letter — have also urged the Trump administration to spare 988's specialized services for LGBTQ youth from funding cuts, arguing that such a move would have 'lethal consequences if enacted.' The proposed cuts, which need approval from Congress, would not take effect until October. Trump signed the bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Designation Act in October 2020, and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline officially launched in 2022 under former President Biden's administration. Congress increased funding for the hotline's LGBTQ youth specialized services last year on a bipartisan basis. '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,' Jaymes Black, the Trevor Project's CEO, said in a statement on Monday. 'LGBTQ+ young people disproportionately experience rejection, stigma, and discrimination, and are navigating a world that too often tells them they don't belong. We must send a louder message back: millions of people are fighting for you to lead the happy, healthy lives you deserve,' Black said. A report released by the group last year found that 39 percent of LGBTQ 13- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. considered suicide over the past year, including 46 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth. Half of LGBTQ young people who wanted mental health care said they were unable to access it.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pedro Pascal, Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa Sign Open Letter Supporting Federal Funding for LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Prevention
Pedro Pascal, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Sabrina Carpenter are among the more than 100 celebrities who have signed an open letter calling for the protection of $50 million in federal funds earmarked for LGBTQ youth suicide prevention programs. The letter comes following an April news report about the leaked draft of the budget of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.. The draft reportedly calls for plans to eliminate all funding for LGBTQ youth suicide prevention services through 988, a federal program that provides emergency crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth considering suicide. More from Variety Ariana Grande Joins 'Meet the Parents 4' With Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro Debating the New Emmy Awards Strategy Adopted by Pedro Pascal for 'The Last of Us': Die Early, Submit for Lead 'The Last of Us' Finale Reaches 3.7 Million Viewers, Down 30% From Premiere, Though Season 2 Is Averaging Above Season 1 'As artists, creators, and public figures, our platforms come with responsibility. And today, that responsibility is clear: we must speak out to protect the mental health and lives of LGBTQ+ youth,' the beginning of the letter reads, in part. 'We will not stay silent.' The letter goes onto explain that since its launch in 2022, the 988 program has helped connect 'nearly 1.3 million crisis contacts with life-saving, affirming care to LGBTQ+ young people during their most vulnerable moments. Suicide among LGBTQ+ youth is a public health crisis, and it should be treated as such.' Other celebs to sign the letter include Jamie Lee Curtis, Sarah Paulson, Orville Peck, Bob the Drag Queen. Daniel Radcliffe, Troye Sivan, Alan Cumming, Margaret Cho, Nathan Lane, Kelsea Ballerini, director Paul Feig, Dylan Mulvaney, David Archuleta, Benito Skinner, Sutton Stacke, Franke Grande, Colton Underwood and 'Wednesday' star Hunter Doohan. 'This is about people, not politics,' the letter also reads. 'At a time of deep division, let this be something we as Americans 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.' Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black thanked those who signed the letter. '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,' he said in a statement. 'It is clinical best practice for highly trained counselors to provide competent care to high-risk communities, including LGBTQ+ youth and veterans. LGBTQ+ young people disproportionately experience rejection, stigma, and discrimination, and are navigating a world that too often tells them they don't belong.' Read the full letter at Watch the video below for 'Stranger Things' star Noah Schnapp talking about Pride Month and offering advice to queer youth. I caught up with him Saturday at Netflix's Tudum event in Los Angeles. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Sci-Fi Surges, FYC Crunch Pressure, and Comedy Category Shakeups Across 94 Races
IOL News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Driving licence printing machine fixed but huge backlogs remain
The Department of Transport has repaired the driving licence card printing machine after months of downtime, but a significant backlog of unprinted cards remains. Image: File Millions have been spent on repairing and maintaining the driving licence card printing machine. The Department of Transport announced earlier last month that the driving licence printing machine was fixed and operations have resumed. The machine had been inoperative since February 5, resulting in a backlog of 747,748 unprinted cards. To reduce the backlog, the Department of Transport's Driving Licence Card Agency extended the working hours of its staff members. In light of this, in a parliamentary question and reply, Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi asked Transport Minister Barbara Creecy about the number of times the machine broke down and how much it cost to repair it. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Zibi then asked how many employees it takes to operate the machine and how much overtime pay has been paid to employees due to lost printing time because of machine breakdowns. Zibi also asked Creecy if there was progress in acquiring a new card machine. Creecy said the backlog of driving licences as of May 15 was estimated at 733,000 cards. Creecy revealed the machine's major breakdowns in the past financial year are as follows: 2022/23 - 26 working days 2023/24 - 48 working days 2024/25 - 17 working days 2025/26 - 38 working days Over the same period, repairs and maintenance costs: 2022/23 - R9,267,862,33 2023/24 - R1,651,772,57 2024/25 - R544,747,64 2025/26 - R624,988,10 (to date) Overtime payment, over the last few financial years, has been: 2022/23 - R1,435,376,79 2023/24 - R1,608,102,52 2024/25 - R1,351,473,78 2025/26 - R0,00 Creecy said it takes four people to operate the machine. About progress made with the process to acquire a new driving licence card printing machine, Creecy said: 'The Minister has directed that a declaratory order be sought from a competent court on the tender to acquire a new machine, in order to ensure that no further irregular expenditure occurs.'
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
More than 100 lawmakers urge scrapping of federal plans to cut LGBTQ lifeline services
More than 100 lawmakers urge scrapping of federal plans to cut LGBTQ lifeline services Show Caption Hide Caption Surgeon General calls for warning labels on social media platforms US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for warning labels on social media, citing concerns about children's mental health. More than 100 Congressional Democrats have signed a letter urging U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to scrub planned budget cuts that would eliminate crucial mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth, who face greater mental health challenges than their peers. At stake are services offered through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which has fielded more than 13 million calls, texts and chats from across the U.S. and its territories since its inception. Created through a bipartisan measure signed into law by President Trump in 2020, the lifeline serves veterans and non-English speakers in addition to LGBTQ+ young people. Similar to calling 911, people looking for mental or emotional health support can call 988, with the further option of being directed to a counselor trained in LGBTQ+ youth support. The proposed cuts, first reported by The Washington Post, would slash the lifeline's LGBTQ+ youth services as part of an HHS overhaul. The restructuring will consolidate the agency's 28 divisions into 15 divisions, including the newly created Administration for a Healthy America to implement Kennedy's 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda. 'Ending this mental health support for youth in distress would devastate a vital resource for some of our nation's most vulnerable young people,' the lawmakers' letter stated. 'This shortsighted and dangerous plan undermines 988's ability to provide tailored support for a population with a higher risk of suicide and will have lethal consequences if enacted.' The letter is signed by 109 members of Congress, including Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts; Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois; Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan; and Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wisconsin. 'Mental health crises do not recognize partisan differences, and this is why support for 988 and its specialized services has always been firmly bipartisan,' the representatives wrote. '…. We urge that you scrap this ill-advised plan. Our nation's children deserve nothing less.' Their missive echoes a similar letter issued on May 7 by a group of Democratic senators including Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey of Massachusetts. The proposed cuts, to take effect October 1, come as LGBTQ+ youth are experiencing a spike in mental health issues triggered by the Trump administration's heightened attacks on the community. The plan is still in draft form and its final version will need Congressional approval. About 1.2 million of the 13 million calls, texts and chats received by the lifeline have been directed to its LGBTQ+ Youth Hotline. The frequency of those contacts has spiked over the last several months, according to The Trevor Project, one of seven federally funded contact centers that partner with the lifeline to offer specialized support for LGBTQ+ young people. According to the Trevor Project, a national organization focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people, suicide is the second leading cause of death among those aged 10 to 14 and the third leading cause for those aged 15 to 24. LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and the project estimates more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the U.S. seriously consider suicide annually. 'Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity,' said Jaymes Black, The Trevor Project's CEO. Ending the lifeline's specialized LGBTQ+ youth services, Black said, 'will not just strip away access from millions of LGBTQ+ kids and teens. It will put their lives at risk.' In response to the lawmakers' letter, a spokesperson for HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration noted that all 988 services currently remain available and unaltered. 'The 988 Lifeline offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to skilled, caring crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance misuse, or mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress,' the spokesperson said. 'People can also call, text or chat 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. The 988 Lifeline is a direct connection to immediate support and resources for anyone in crisis.' What is the 988 lifeline? The national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line launched in July 2022 to assist people experiencing mental health, substance use or suicidal crises. The service stemmed from the Federal Communications Commission's July 2020 adoption of 988 as a nationwide dialing code for people in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. Several months after the FCC action, President Donald Trump signed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, incorporating the 988 lifeline into law. 'When Congress established the 988 lifeline, signed into law by President Trump during his first term, we intended it to be a resource for any American experiencing mental distress,' the representatives' letter said. 'To a young person feeling alone and scared, 988 is truly a lifeline.' Community and mental health advocates agreed. Tom Milam, a psychologist who serves as chief medical officer for Iris Telehealth, which has a strong LGBTQ+ community presence, said the proposed cuts would likely compound the stresses already faced by overloaded behavioral health resources. Put off by long waitlists for outpatient behavioral health services, patients have increasingly turned to emergency rooms and urgent care centers for mental health and addiction treatment, he said. '988 has been a game-changer as a resource for people struggling with mental health and addiction issues,' Milam said. Should that option cease to exist or experience extended hold times because of inadequate staffing, more patients will call 911 or seek emergency-room care – not only the costliest option, he said, but one with minimal access to quality mental health care. 'We see hospitals and health systems doing the best they can to serve people in their community with mental health and addiction issues, but it is rarely enough,' he said. Rachael Fried, executive director of Jewish Queer Youth, a New York-based mental health organization better known by the acronym JQY, said eliminating the life's LGBTQ+ services would contribute to 'an even greater loss of hope.' 'The administration's proposal to cut services for LGBTQ youth through the 988 suicide and crisis hotline will have devastating and deadly consequences,' she said. Black, of the Trevor Project, noted a 2024 Trevor Project survey that found that 40% of LGBTQ+ young people had seriously considered suicide in the past year, while 12% had attempted it. 'We urge Congress to defend its establishment of this data-based, bipartisan program to allow its life-saving services to continue for generations to come,' they said. 'We do not have to agree on every policy issue to agree that every young life is worth saving.' If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at
