Pedro Pascal, Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa come together in defense of funds for suicide prevention

In a joint movement that brought together music, cinema and television, artists such as Pedro Pascal, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Sabrina Carpenter signed an open letter requesting the maintenance of US $ 50 million in federal investments intended for suicide prevention among young LGBTQ+. The mobilization was organized by The Trevor Project, says Variety.

The letter comes after a leakage of a preliminary draft of the US Department of Human Health and Human Services budget, which suggested the total elimination of funding for the 988 program, a direct emergency line that provides emotional and psychological support for young LGBTQ+ in suicidal crisis situations. Since operating in 2022, the channel has welcomed nearly 1.3 million calls.

“As artists, creators and public figures, our platforms bring with them responsibilities. And today, this responsibility is clear: we need to manifest ourselves to protect the mental health and life of young LGBTQ+,” says the letter. “We won’t be silent.”

The text emphasizes that the possible withdrawal of the money puts lives at risk and sends a cruel message to thousands of vulnerable young people: “Eliminate this salvation board leaves young LGBTQ+ with the message that their lives are not worth saving. We refuse to accept this message.”

The appeal, which has gained strength on social networks, was also signed by Jamie Lee Curtis, Sarah Paulson, Orville Peck, Daniel Radcliffe, Troye Sivan, Margaret Cho, Bob the Drag Queen, Alan Cumming, Nathan Lane, Kelsea Ballerini, Dylan Mulvaney, David Archuleta, Sutton Stacket, Benito Skinner, Colton Underwood, Franke Grande, filmmaker Paul Feig and Hunter Doohan of Netflix’s Wandinha series.

Jaymes Black, CEO of Trevor Project, also positioned himself. “I am deeply grateful to the influential voices of entertainment that are manifesting and reminding the public that suicide prevention is a matter of people – not politics,” he said.