On this installment of the Redacted History Podcast we take a look back at the life and accomplishments of Harvey Milk, a Navy Veteran and the first openly gay man to hold political office in America. We also look back at his untimely death, how that unfolded, and his legacy.
June 18, 2025 ā The Trevor Project received officialĀ noticeĀ yesterday that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is initiating the closure of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineās LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program within 30 days, effective July 17, 2025.
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, released the following statement in response:
āWe received official notice that the Trump administration has ordered the closure of The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineās LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program, effective July 17, 2025. This means that, in 30 short days, this program that has provided life-saving services toĀ more than 1.3 million LGBTQ+ young peopleĀ will no longer be available for those who need it.
āThis is devastating, to say the least. Suicide prevention is about people, not politics. The administrationās decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible. The fact that this news comes to us halfway through Pride Month is callous ā as is the administrationās choice to remove the āTā from the acronym āLGBTQ+ā in their announcement. Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased.
āCongress can still act to reverse this fatal decision. We are asking everyone to join the overwhelming public support for evidence-based crisis services, and urge Congress to act. Learn more by visitingĀ TheTrevorProject.org/ActNow.
In September 2022, The Trevor Project began providing its best-practice crisis services to LGBTQ+ youth through the 988 Lifeline. When individuals contact the 988 via phone, text, or chat, they are given the option to āpress 3ā or āreply PRIDEā to be connected with counselors trained specifically to assist LGBTQ+ contacts up to age 25. Initially, The Trevor Project served as the sole provider for the pilot phase of 988 LGBTQ+ youth specialized services, before transitioning to serve as one of seven centers that currently make up the LGBTQ+ Youth Subnetwork.
The Trevor Project serves nearly 50% of the LGBTQ+ youth specialized servicesā contact volume. In 2024 alone, The Trevor Project directly servedĀ more than 231,000 crisis contacts, and trained and supported nearly 250 crisis counselors and operational support staff to support the 988 Lifeline. Previously, the LGBTQ+ Youth Subnetwork received up to $50 million in restricted federal funds to provide these life-saving services.
The Trevor Projectās supporters in theĀ HouseĀ andĀ SenateĀ advocated for the continued funding for these life-saving programs. The organization launched aĀ petitionĀ to demand lawmakers protect LGBTQ+ youth and anĀ Emergency LifelineĀ fundraising campaign. On June 2, 2025, more than 100 entertainment icons ā across film, music, TV, sports, theater, comedy, fashion, culinary arts, and book publishing ā joinedĀ The Trevor Projectās sign-on letterĀ to protect federal funding for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention.
If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Projectās trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat atĀ TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.
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Episode Script Writer and Researcher: Jordyn Howard
Episode Editor and Narrator: Dr. AndrƩ White Jr.
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