My dear defenders of justice,
Happy Wednesday! I hope this message finds you well. Each morning, I take a moment—no more than fifteen minutes—to mentally prepare for the day ahead. It's a time for reflection, a brief scan of emails, and a quiet moment of grounding. This morning, however, I came across an article that deeply unsettled me and compelled me to reach out to you.
According to recent reports, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering cuts to the National Suicide Hotline's LGBTQ+ subnetwork, set to take effect this October. This is not a drill; it's a real threat to the well-being of our most vulnerable.
Before we delve into the specifics, let's consider the broader context. Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10–14 and 25–34, and the third for those aged 15–24. Shockingly, for every person murdered, two die by suicide.
Young men are more than four times more likely to die if they attempt suicide, while young women are significantly more likely to attempt it in the first place. In raw numbers, nearly 50,000 Americans lost their lives to suicide last year. In fact, suicide rates in the US have been such a problem even the Odious Orange noted it during his first term, directing emergency funds and cabinet level resources towards developing roadmaps to bolster the US crisis hotline in response to rising suicide rates.
Perhaps you are thinking it has more to do with this is a group that is somehow statistically less likely to commit suicide but a focus on the LGBTQ+ community says quite the opposite. The Trevor Project's 2024 survey reveals that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide in the past year, including 46% of transgender and nonbinary youth. Alarmingly, 12% of LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide in the same period. LGBTQ Teens are 4x more likely than their heterosexual peers to attempt suicide.
If we visualize this, imagine a theater with 1,000 seats. Every 45 seconds, one seat is filled by an LGBTQ+ youth who has attempted suicide. By the end of the day, the theater is full. Every.Single. Day.
Some may argue that funding cuts are justified due to financial constraints. However, the math doesn't add up. The cost per contact with the LGBTQ+ subnetwork is approximately $82. If we multiply that by the total number of LGBTQ+ individuals served, the total comes to $98.4 million. Yet, the proposed cuts aim to save only $50 million. This isn't about saving money; it's about redirecting funds away from those who need them most.
Moreover, the economic impact of suicide is staggering. The U.S. loses approximately $500 billion annually due to suicide, factoring in healthcare costs, lost wages, and the legal net worth of lives cut short. Cutting $50 million from suicide prevention efforts will only exacerbate this loss.
Now, let's consider the human aspect. Think about everyone you know. If you know two LGBTQ+ individuals, statistically, one has considered suicide. The actions of our nation are sending a clear message: their lives don't matter.
Some may claim that their tax dollars shouldn't support LGBTQ+ causes. But consider this: do you get to decide how every dollar of your taxes is spent? No. We elect leaders to make those decisions based on the needs of the people. A majority of Americans believe that LGBTQ+ individuals deserve equal rights and protection. Supporting suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth is a moral obligation, not a political stance.
If you've read this far, I urge you to take action. For those who can, consider donating to The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to assisting LGBTQ+ teens in crisis. They currently handle about 50% of the call volume from the 988 line and are already underfunded. Losing federal grants would be a significant blow to their efforts.
For those without financial means, your voice is invaluable. Speak out against the proposed budget cuts. Engage in conversations around you and challenge harmful rhetoric. Stand up for what's right, even when it's uncomfortable. Stop placing the added burden on your LGBTQ+ friends and family of educating you on why we deserve to be treated as human beings—go ahead and assume that's a given. In everyday life, no matter where you might encounter someone who disagrees with that, you don't have a duty to argue with them, but you do have a duty to ensure that you remember and keep those around you safe. You can either be friends with people who are gay, bisexual, or transgender, or you can be friends with people who believe they are not people; you cannot be both. Removing yourself from those groups which disagree costs nothing for you and makes a large group of people feel seen, heard, and respected. It might even save your child's life.
LGBTQ+ individuals have been fighting for their rights for decades. We've protested, we've advocated, and we've persevered. But we can't do it alone. We need allies who are willing to stand with us, to speak up, and to ensure that our youth have the support they need to thrive.
In closing, I leave you with a poignant excerpt from the film Prayers for Bobby, a story that underscores the devastating consequences of ignorance and fear and is based on the true life story of Mary Griffiths who lost her son to suicide. While a longer excerpt, I believe sometimes it's best to let others' real, raw experiences speak for themselves.
“Homosexuality is a sin. Homosexuals are doomed to spend eternity in hell. If they wanted to change, they could be healed of their evil ways. If they would turn away from temptation, they could be normal again if only they would try and try harder if it doesn't work. These are all the things I said to my son Bobby when I found out he was gay. When he told me he was homosexual my world fell apart. I did everything I could to cure him of his sickness. Eight months ago my son jumped off a bridge and killed himself. I deeply regret my lack of knowledge about gay and lesbian people. I see that everything I was taught and told was bigotry and de-humanizing slander. If I had investigated beyond what I was told, if I had just listened to my son when he poured his heart out to me I would not be standing here today with you filled with regret. I believe that God was pleased with Bobby's kind and loving spirit. In God's eyes kindness and love are what it's all about. I didn't know that each time I echoed eternal damnation for gay people each time I referred to Bobby as sick and perverted and a danger to our children. His self esteem and sense of worth were being destroyed. And finally his spirit broke beyond repair. It was not God's will that Bobby climbed over the side of a freeway overpass and jumped directly into the path of an eighteen-wheel truck which killed him instantly. Bobby's death was the direct result of his parent's ignorance and fear of the word gay. He wanted to be a writer. His hopes and dreams should not have been taken from him but they were. There are children, like Bobby, sitting in your congregations. Unknown to you they will be listening as you echo "amen" and that will soon silence their prayers. Their prayers to God for understanding and acceptance and for your love but your hatred and fear and ignorance of the word gay, will silence those prayers. So, before you echo "amen" in your home and place of worship. Think. Think and remember a child is listening.”
Let us not stand by in regret. Let us act now to protect the lives of our LGBTQ+ youth.
Until our next bold move,
Lady LiberTea
Editor-in-Chief