LGBTQ+ advocates in Missouri are responding after a decision was made this week to end specialized services for LGBTQ+ people on a national hotline.
Specialized LGBTQ+ support on the 988 national hotline will end on July 17th.
Callers previously reached trained counselors by pressing option 3.
Robert Fischer, communications director for PROMO, a Missouri LGBTQ+ advocacy organization told Missourinet that the decision is harmful.
“The Trump administration said you’re not going to be able to access a counselor that is familiar with the need of LGBTQ+ people during the time when you need to talk to someone where it could be a life-or-death situation,” said Fischer. “And so even though there are resources out there for folks this is just another way that makes it harder for people to access the health care and mental care they need during a crisis,”
Fischer said even though there are a variety of hotlines that will still be available people had gotten familiar with the national hotline.
“A lot of people had gotten comfortable utilizing the simple 988 number and then pressing three to reach a LGBTQ+ trained crisis counselor,” said Fischer.
Fischer said any LGBTQ+ people needing help can reach out to the Trecor Project by texting “START” to 678-678.
Over 1.2 million LGBTQ+ individuals contacted the 988 hotline between July 2022 and February 2025, according to federal data.
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