Latest news with #988Suicide&CrisisLifeline
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Pedro Pascal, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, among 100 others, sign letter opposing Trump's funding cuts to LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention
Actors Pedro Pascal, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Sabrina Carpenter, among 100 other Hollywood celebrities signed an open letter slamming the proposed move by US President Donald Trump to cut funding for youth suicide prevention programmes for queer people. The celebrities had urged Trump and Congress to "protect funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialised Services in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget." The letter came after a leaked draft of the budget of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was released. "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," they affirmed. The letter goes on to 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."
Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, and 100 plus Hollywood stars rally against proposed cuts to LGBTQ youth crisis services
A group of over 100 well-known figures from the entertainment industry — including Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sabrina Carpenter, and Daniel Radcliffe — have signed an open letter denouncing a proposed move by American President Donald Trump's administration to eliminate federal support for suicide prevention services tailored to LGBTQ youth. The letter, released by The Trevor Project, urged both the White House and lawmakers to 'protect funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.' A post shared by The Trevor Project (@trevorproject) It expressed deep concern about the potential consequences of such a funding cut. 'We are heartbroken by the proposal to eliminate federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services — a move that will have devastating, life-threatening consequences for young people across the country,' the letter read. The signatories, all public figures across music, film, and television, emphasized the influence they hold and their duty to use it for good: '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.' In an effort to steer the conversation away from political divides, the statement continued, 'This is about people, not politics. 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.' Along with the primary names attached to the letter, additional supporters include Dua Lipa, Sarah Paulson, Cara Delevingne, Paul Feig, Bob the Drag Queen, Troye Sivan, Alan Cumming, Margaret Cho, Josh Hutcherson, David Archuleta, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, Nathan Lane, Kelsea Ballerini, Diplo, Benito Skinner, Orville Peck, Jake Shane, Dwyane Wade, Julia Michaels, Noah Cyrus, and Paris Hilton, among others. The letter also underscored the impact of visibility and storytelling: 'We also recognise the consequential impact we can have on showing LGBTQ+ young people possibility models. Telling stories about the diverse tapestry of humanity is what makes art powerful, and representation can be life-saving. At this moment, LGBTQ+ youth are hearing messages that question and criticize their identities and their existence. We must show them that there are still so many people fighting for their rights.' The message then turned personal, directed at the very youth the proposed funding cut could affect: 'To every LGBTQ+ young person reading this: you are not alone. We see you. We value you. You have the right to feel safe, supported, and loved exactly as you are. You deserve access to life-saving services that honor your humanity. You may be hurting. 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.' The backdrop to the open letter is a leaked draft of the Trump administration's upcoming budget proposal, which reportedly calls for ending federal investment in the LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services offered through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If enacted, the cuts would take effect on October 1. According to The Trevor Project, the program has, since 2022, 'connected nearly 1.3 million crisis contacts with life-saving, affirming care to LGBTQ+ young people during their most vulnerable moments.' The letter ended with a unified declaration: '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.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter Sign Open Letter Supporting Federal Funding for LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention
Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sabrina Carpenter and Daniel Radcliffe are among more than 100 Hollywood notables who signed an open letter, slamming the Trump administration's proposal to cut funding for LGBTQ youth suicide prevention programs. Published by the nonprofit organization The Trevor Project, the celebrities are calling for Trump and Congress to 'protect funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.' More from The Hollywood Reporter Ariana Grande to Star Opposite Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro in 'Meet the Parents 4' 'The Last of Us' Creators on That Finale Death, Ending and Season 3 Changes David Tennant Says He Wanted Pedro Pascal's Role in 'The Fantastic Four' 'We are heartbroken by the proposal to eliminate federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services — a move that will have devastating, life-threatening consequences for young people across the country,' the letter read. '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.' The letter continued, 'This is about people, not politics. 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.' Other notable signees included Dua Lipa, Sarah Paulson, Cara Delevingne, Paul Feig, Bob the Drag Queen, Troye Sivan, Alan Cumming, Margaret Cho, Josh Hutcherson, David Archuleta, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, Nathan Lane, Kelsea Ballerini, Diplo, Benito Skinner, Orville Peck, Jake Shane, Dwyane Wade, Julia Michaels, Noah Cyrus and Paris Hilton, among others. 'We also recognize the consequential impact we can have on showing LGBTQ+ young people possibility models,' the letter read. 'Telling stories about the diverse tapestry of humanity is what makes art powerful, and representation can be life-saving. At this moment, LGBTQ+ youth are hearing messages that question and criticize their identities and their existence. We must show them that there are still so many people fighting for their rights.' 'To every LGBTQ+ young person reading this: you are not alone. We see you. We value you,' it continued. 'You have the right to feel safe, supported, and loved exactly as you are. You deserve access to life-saving services that honor your humanity. You may be hurting. 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.' The open letter is in response to President Donald Trump's administration's recently leaked budget draft, which plans to cut funding for a federal suicide prevention hotline aimed at helping LGBTQ youth. If passed, the cuts would be effective Oct. 1. Since its launch in 2022, this program has connected 'nearly 1.3 million crisis contacts with life-saving, affirming care to LGBTQ+ young people during their most vulnerable moments,' according to The Trevor Project. The letter concluded, '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. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Harvey Weinstein's "Jane Doe 1" Victim Reveals Identity: "I'm Tired of Hiding" 'Awards Chatter' Podcast: 'Sopranos' Creator David Chase Finally Reveals What Happened to Tony (Exclusive)
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ariana Grande & Pedro Pascal among 100 celebrities asking Congress to save LGBTQ+ youth 988 hotline
Over 100 celebrities have signed an open letter to the Trump Administration and Congress urging them not to eliminate funding for 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services. A leaked budget draft, first obtained by The Washington Post in April, shows the Trump administration's plans to eliminate all funding for the federal program, which provides emergency crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth considering suicide. The cuts are set to go into effect October 1. The Trevor Project has now issued a letter calling on lawmakers save the program in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. It includes signatures from Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, Daniel Radcliffe, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, Cara Delevingne, Christina Aguilera, Troye Sivan, Alan Cumming, Kelsea Ballerini, Tove Lo, Sophia Bush, Josh Hutcherson, Jonathan Van Ness, and many more. "This is about people, not politics. 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," the letter states. "Stripping away this lifeline leaves LGBTQ+ youth with the message that their lives are not worth saving. We refuse to accept that message." The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. seriously consider suicide each year, and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds. The LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services, funded through the Department of Health and Human Services, has provided more than 1.2 million people with queer-inclusive crisis services, and the 988 Lifeline has served more than 14 million, government data shows. The Trevor Project's crisis services saw a 33 percent increase in calls and messages on the day of Trump's inauguration compared to the weeks prior. Volume went up 46 percent the next day in comparison to typical daily rates. This followed a record-breaking 700 percent increase observed across the Trevor Project's crisis lines on November 6, the day after the presidential election. "To every LGBTQ+ young person reading this: you are not alone. We see you. We value you. You have the right to feel safe, supported, and loved exactly as you are," the letter continues. "You deserve access to life-saving services that honor your humanity. You may be hurting. 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." If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at or text START to 678678.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pedro Pascal, Daniel Radcliffe, Sabrina Carpenter, and more demand funding for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention
Pedro Pascal, Daniel Radcliffe, Sabrina Carpenter, and Ariana Grande are among more than 100 celebrities who are speaking out against the Trump administration's plan to cut funding for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention programs. In an open letter published Monday by the nonprofit organization the Trevor Project, the stars are calling for the protection of $50 million in federal funding to maintain the life-saving mental health programs. "We are heartbroken by the proposal to eliminate federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services — a move that will have devastating, life-threatening consequences for young people across the country," the letter begins. "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." The letter comes weeks after a leaked budget draft from President Donald Trump's administration proposed plans to eliminate all funding for the 988 federal program, which provides emergency crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth who are considering suicide. If enacted, the budget cuts would be effective Oct. 1. The open letter explains that since the 988 federal funding program launched in 2022, it has helped connect "nearly 1.3 million crisis contacts with life-saving, affirming care to LGBTQ+ young people during their most vulnerable moments." Other celebs to sign the letter include Sarah Paulson, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, Cara Delevingne, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dua Lipa, Darren Criss, Bob the Drag Queen, Troye Sivan, Aly & AJ, Alan Cumming, Margaret Cho, Nathan Lane, Kelsea Ballerini, Diplo, Paul Feig, Dylan Mulvaney, Josh Hutcherson, David Archuleta, Benito Skinner, Orville Peck, Colton Underwood, and Eugene Lee Yang. "Suicide among LGBTQ+ youth is a public health crisis, and it should be treated as such. LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers," the letter continues. "This is about people, not politics. 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 concludes, "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." Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black thanked those who signed the letter in a statement, saying, "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."Several of the signees have been vocal about the protection of LGBTQ+ rights over the years. Pascal, who has a transgender sister, recently made headlines for calling out J.K. Rowling after she publicly celebrated an April 16 U.K. Supreme Court ruling excluding transgender women from the legal definition of a woman under Britain's Equality Act. "Heinous loser behavior," he wrote in an Instagram comment. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
