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Gwen Pepin
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Springfield, IL — While Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans gut lifesaving mental health resources by ending federal funding for specialized 988 crisis line services for LGBTQ+ youth – the State of Illinois is taking a stand.
Under the leadership of Governor Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) will continue offering the 988 crisis line as specialized support for LGBTQ+ youth. While Republicans undermine the safety of Illinois’ kids, Democrats are stepping up to help ensure that vulnerable youth still have access to mental health care.
“Illinois’ decision to continue providing this service is a rejection of Republicans’ cruelty. Democrats are sending a clear message that LGBTQ+ youth deserve to be seen, heard, and protected,” said Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez. “This is what leadership rooted in compassion looks like.”
In Central Illinois, Phoenix Center Springfield, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ center, is praising this decision as a critical step to protect vulnerable kids left behind by Republicans.
Key excerpts from the Illinois Times: Illinois keeps 988 services for LGBT+ youth
By: Dilpreet Raju
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among all individuals in the U.S. between the ages of 10 and 34, according to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control. IDHS reports that Illinois’s LGBTQ+ youth subnetwork receives more than 1,600 calls a month.
- “The loss of dedicated 988 support for LGBTQIA+ individuals is not just a policy change. It is the loss of a life-saving connection. For many, speaking to someone who shared their identity was the difference between staying silent and reaching out,” said Adam Carter, CEO of PATH, which serves as one of the state’s 988 contact centers.
- In a statement emailed to Illinois Times, nonprofit Phoenix Center Springfield, which supports people of varied identities and backgrounds, celebrated the decision to continue specialized services for 988 in Illinois.
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