LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Assemblymember Mark González was joined by Supervisor Hahn and Supervisor Horvath to announce legislation that will reestablish the 988 Press 3 LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Crisis Line, backfilling a program axed by the Trump Administration.
"I am not waiting for this federal administration to realize what they've done," said Assemblymember Mark González. "Lives are on the line right now, and every day we wait, more LGBTQ+ youth are pushed into crisis. If we stand by, thousands could be lost to suicide. Before this reckless cut, 1.5 million contacts were made to Press 3. That doesn't happen by accident — that happens because LGBTQ+ youth trust this lifeline and rely on it in their darkest moments."
Alongside the bill, Supervisors Hahn and Horvath announced their board motion to establish a pilot program that, once approved, would allow Los Angeles County residents to access this hotline while a statewide effort is underway.
"The Press 3 option was a lifeline, and losing it has been devastating. It wasn't just a policy change—it was a message to LGBTQ+ young people that their needs didn't matter," said Supervisor Janice Hahn. "But LA County will not turn its back on our LGBTQ young people. Not now, not ever. So we are going to work at every level—local, state, and federal—to get this lifeline restored and protected for good."
"Eliminating the 'Press 3' option on the 988 Lifeline is a dangerous decision, with real consequences for LGBTQ+ youth, who rely on trained, affirming counselors in their darkest moments," said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. "Young people in our community face disproportionate challenges; taking away this critical resource is unacceptable. We must restore this lifesaving support and make clear that every young person deserves to be heard, supported, and safe. With today's motion, Los Angeles County is joining federal and state leaders in demanding it be restored for every LGBTQ+ youth in need."
The Trump-Effect:
Since 2022, 988—the nation's official hotline for suicide prevention—has contracted with non-profits to route over 1.5 million contacts to specialized LGBTQ+ care providers. By the order of our President, the Administration ended all contracts with 988 LGBTQ+ providers—taking away a proven lifesaving tool.
"Thanks to the leadership of Supervisor Hahn and Supervisor Horvath, my bill will ensure that California will not abandon these young people. We will step up, we will protect them, and we will make sure that life-saving help is always just four digits away," said Assemblymember Mark González.
LGBTQ+ Youth in California make up a large chunk of 988 callers:
Before July 17th, 2025, calling "988" and pressing "3" allowed help seekers to be automatically routed to a subnetwork of LGBTQ+ providers.
The 988 LGBTQ+ youth subnetwork received 73,000 calls from California from July 2024 to June 2025, representing 9% of all calls to the subnetwork.
Additionally, from May 2024 to April 2025, the LGBTQ+ youth subnetwork received 680,127 calls, representing approximately 14% of the 5,153,905 calls that 988 received during that period.
LA County accounts for one-third of the state's overall 988 call volume.
The Statistics go further:
The Centers for Disease Control found that 20% of surveyed students who identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual reported having attempted suicide, compared to 6% of their heterosexual peers. This rate jumps to nearly 26% for transgender high school students.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), schools were the 3rd most common location for reported hate crimes against LGBTQ+ youth, with incidents more than doubling between 2018 and 2022.
*Photos and Video available upon request. Please reach out to Kyle.Johnson@asm.ca.gov*
Assemblymember Mark González is the Assembly Majority Whip. He serves on the Committees on Appropriations, Health, Public Safety, Rules, and Utilities & Energy. He represents the 54th District, composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Commerce, Montebello, and Vernon.
CONTACT: Jaspreet Johl; Jaspreet.Johl@asm.ca.gov; (916) 335-8871
Kyle Johnson; Kyle.Johnson@asm.ca.gov; (925) 549-2030
