The Trevor Project, a leading nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ young people in crisis, will not participate in the restored LGBTQ+ crisis service on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The organization helped build the program and served as its first provider.
The Trump administration plans to restore the specialized service, known as “Press 3,” after Congress directed it to do so. The service launched in 2022 for LGBTQ+ young people. Callers under 25 could press 3 when calling 988, text “PRIDE” or use an online chat to reach specially trained counselors.
The Trevor Project initially operated the pilot alone. The service later expanded to seven providers. Trevor handled nearly half of the network’s contact volume, including more than 231,000 crisis contacts in 2024.
Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black told The Advocate that the organization’s proposal to rejoin the restored service was rejected. “The exclusion of our nearly 30 years of expertise is of course disappointing.” Black said.
Black said Trevor remains committed to ensuring the restored service follows clinical best practices for LGBTQ+ young people, “including and especially transgender youth,” who face disproportionately high suicide risk. Black also raised concerns about the administration’s requirement that Press 3 comply with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14168, which directs the federal government not to recognize transgender identities.
The administration ended the specialized service in July 2025 and said LGBTQ+ callers would instead use the broader 988 system. Congress later directed the federal government to restore specialized services and allocated $33.1 million for the program.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, said it is working with Vibrant Emotional Health, the 988 network administrator, to restore the service by the end of the year. Information obtained by The Advocate indicates the service could return as soon as Oct. 1.
SAMHSA limited applications for the renewed service to current 988 network members. Trevor no longer qualified as an active member after the administration ended the specialized service, but the organization submitted a proposal anyway.
SAMHSA has not identified the providers selected for the restored network or explained the criteria used to evaluate applications. The agency also has not explained why Trevor was rejected or whether trained counselors will be permitted to recognize transgender and nonbinary identities.
The Trevor Project continues to operate its own 24/7 crisis lines. Its experts are also training 988 counselors in California and Illinois to support LGBTQ+ young people.
