Jim Parsons shoots Trump to close LGBTQ+ Crisis Hotline
“The Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons recently appeared on MSNBC’s “The Weekend” (via The Daily Beast) And spoke against the government of Donald Trump for closing one of the LGBTQ+ crisis hotlines of the nation. From July 18, the Lifeline of Suicide & Crisline of 988 no longer has a specialized LGBTQ+ operation, which means that callers no longer have the option to press “on 3” and reach counselors that are trained to respond to LGBTQ+ crisis issues.
“I think it is quite literally criminal,” said Parsons, who is openly gay and married his husband, Todd Spiewak, in 2017. “It is one of the types of decisions you like, there is no good reason for it.
“It is only hurtful and it feels like it is only being done to make a point, we come from here because we want to ensure that certain people understand that they are not welcome here,” Parsons added.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) previously reported that 16.5 million people have been calling, texting or sent chats to the 988 Lifeline in the last three years. The Hotline was set up in July 2022. Of that total number, 1.5 million was diverted into counselors that specialize in LGBTQ+ matters. The Trump administration announced in June that it would close the last service this month. The decision was generally criticized by members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“This administration has made a dangerous decision to play politics with the lives of real young people,” said the Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black in a statement at that time.
Samhsa added his own statement: “Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to access competent, caring, cultural competent crisis advisers who can help with suicidal, abuse of resources or mental health crises, or another type of emotional need.”
Senator Tammy Baldwin, who played a role in writing the legislation created the 988 Hotline, NPR told That the decision of the Trump government to end the extra LGBTQ+ Hotline services is a political step.
“They did not have -alternating attacks on members of the LGBTQ community, in particular transgender individuals, transgender youth,” Baldwin said. “In the light of those ruthless political attacks on this very vulnerable community, cutting a lifeline is absolutely cruel.”
