February 23rd, 2026
The Honorable Assemblymember Mia Bonta
Chair of Assembly Health Committee
Legislative Office Building
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Support for AB 1540 (M. Gonzalez): 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: LGBTQ+ Youth
Dear Chair,
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment (LIVE) is pleased to support AB 1540 (Gonzalez), legislation that would restore the 988 Press 3 option for suicide and crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth.
LIVE is a program of changemakers that celebrates LGBTQ+ diversity and creates a more inclusive world where LGBTQ+ community members can live authentically. LIVE creates positive change by uplifting and empowering individuals to bolster their voices in policy, stigma reduction, and unifying communities. LIVE is committed to advocating for the health, wellness, and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that all individuals can thrive without facing discrimination or barriers to their livelihood.
In California, the LGBTQ+ youth line received 73,000 calls from July 2024 to June 2025, representing 9% of all 988 calls to the “Press 3” subnetwork. Additionally, from May 2024 to April 2025, the LGBTQ+ line received 680,127 calls, representing approximately 14% of the 5,153,905 calls that 988 received during that period, reflecting the critical need for this specialized resource.
On July 17th, 2025, by order of President Trump, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ended all contracts with 988 subnetwork providers, leaving no specialized care services for queer and trans youth. LGBTQ+ youth experience heightened risk of verbal, physical, and online harassment, which negatively affects their mental health and increases rates of suicidal ideation or death by suicide.
AB 1540 ensures that all LGBTQ+ youth in California, once again, have access to critical and lifesaving suicide and crisis intervention. It is for these reasons that LIVE supports AB 1540 (Gonzalez) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if LIVE can provide assistance on this bill or any other legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at agaribaymena@mhac.org or our Public Policy Coordinator, Danny Thirakul, at dthirakul@mhac.org.
In Community,
Anthony Garibay-Mena
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment
Program Manager
