Moulton Praises Return Of 988 Suicide Hotline LGBTQ Youth Crisis Option

SALEM, MA — U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton praised the return of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline LGBTQIA+ Youth Specialized Services — known as the "Press 3" option — after what he said was "months of pressure on the Trump Administration" from him and his colleagues.

Moulton said the specialized line should never have been interrupted.

"Restoring the Press 3 option is long overdue, but I’m glad to see the Trump Administration finally heed our calls to bring back this critical affirming care for LGBTQIA+ youth," said Congressman Moulton. "Congress provided the funding and the direction to keep this lifeline open long ago, and it's disappointing that there was any lapse in service for the Press 3 option.

"I'll keep working alongside my colleagues to make sure Press 3 is available to every young person who needs it."

Moulton's term in Congress ends in January after a failed bid to unseat sitting U.S. Sen. Ed Markey in the Democratic primary last month.

The Press 3 option launched nationally in 2022 and handled roughly 1.6 million contacts before the Trump Administration shut it down in July 2025.

Moulton and a bipartisan group of colleagues sent a letter in February 2026 to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Department of Health and Human Services demanding the immediate restoration of the Press 3 option.

Moulton and several other colleagues renewed that call during a July 15 press conference on Capitol Hill. That came after the inclusion of $33.1 million in the FY2026 Appropriations law, along with a funding directive requiring HHS to fund the line.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that LGBTQIA+ youth face higher rates of serious depression and suicidal thoughts than their peers. Moulton emphasized that specialized crisis services like the Press 3 option are a proven way to reach young people at vulnerable moments.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.