Political Notebook: LGBTQ training underway for CA suicide line staff

Training on queer and transgender issues for counselors with the state’s 988 suicide support line for youth is now underway. California officials expect by the end of March that staff manning the phones at the dozen call centers around the state will have completed the LGBTQ cultural competency course.

In mid-December, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office announced that the trainings had begun and should wrap up by early spring. More than 1,000 crisis counselors are being offered the new training.

“California is committed to meeting every young person where they are, with compassion, understanding, and support,” stated California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson. “These new trainings reinforce our responsibility to ensure LGBTQ youth are met by crisis counselors who are equipped, prepared, and affirming. At a moment when more young people are reaching out for help, we are ready to step in and support.”

Agency spokesperson Rodger Butler told the Bay Area Reporter this week that the live virtual training sessions began on December 1 and will continue through March. It did not have data on how many crisis counselors had already completed the training session designed “to improve their understanding of LGBTQ identities, support needs, risk factors, and best practices for compassionate, effective crisis intervention,” according to state officials.

“Recorded trainings will also be available to accommodate crisis counselors’ varying work schedules. We are still finalizing the remaining training schedule and complete attendance data is not yet available,” wrote Butler in an emailed reply to the B.A.R.’s questions.

Overseeing the trainings is LGBTQ-youth focused nonprofit The Trevor Project, which did not respond to the B.A.R.’s queries about the start of the sessions by the deadline to do so Wednesday. According to its 2024 research into the mental health needs of LGBTQ youth, the nonprofit found that 35% of the 1,081 residing in California had seriously considered suicide in the past year.

“To meet these young people where they are, it’s critical for crisis counselors to understand their identities, and the unique challenges they face," stated Mark Henson, Trevor’s vice president of advocacy and government affairs, in the news release from Newsom’s office announcing the commencement of the training sessions. "We are beyond grateful for CalHHS’ partnership, and we look forward to our continued work together to ensure the state’s 988 crisis counselors get the training they need to give LGBTQ youth the culturally competent crisis care they deserve.”

As the Political Notebook first reported last summer, The Trevor Project is receiving a portion of the $17.5 million allocated by Newsom and state legislators last year toward the 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund for overseeing the training sessions.

The state leaders did so in response to the Trump administration canceling the specially trained LGBTQ crisis counselors youth under the age of 25 could request when calling the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. As of last July, the “Press 3 option” youth could utilize in order to be connected to a counselor equipped to handle questions about sexual orientation and gender identity matters had been disconnected.

“As the Trump administration abandons the well-being of LGBTQ youth, California is putting more resources toward providing vulnerable kids with the mental health support they deserve,” stated Newsom. “We’re proud to partner with The Trevor Project to improve critical 988 services for young people in times of crisis.”

The suspension at the national level of the service specifically for LGBTQ and questioning youth prompted a number of leaders in statehouses across the country to take action to see that their state’s suicide support line still offered such support. In July, the Illinois Department of Human Services announced that its 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline would continue to provide mental health support services for LGBTQIA+ youth.

Since launching in 2022, Illinois’ 988 Lifeline has developed a subnetwork of crisis counselors trained to work with LGBTQ+ youth and adults under 25. Each month the LGBTQIA+ youth subnetwork of the 988 Lifeline supports more than 1,600 calls and 600 chats or texts from young people residing in the Prairie State.

“The Trump administration’s decision to end these specialized services is a cruel reversal of proven practices,” stated Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D). “Unequivocally, in Illinois, we stand side by side with each member of the LGBTQIA+ community, including transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming youth. If you need help and you call 988, you’ll be met with the compassion, competence and respect.”

The website for the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line notes that, “All help seekers – including members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community who previously used the ‘Press 3’ option – will continue to receive affirming, compassionate, and confidential support from trained specialists.”

In the Golden State, to further address inflated rates of suicidal ideation in LGBTQ youth, gay Assemblymember Mark González (D-Los Angeles) last year authored legislation requiring that The Trevor Project’s 24 hours per day, 7 days per week suicide hotline 1-866-488-7386 be included on student identification cards given to those in grades 7 to 12 and enrolled in the state’s public colleges and universities. (The line also can be accessed by texting START to 678-678.)

Having pledged to enact it once it reached his desk, Newsom did so October 10, which is observed as World Mental Health Day. As of July 1, the impacted schools will need to update the design of their ID cards for pupils.

Youth anywhere in the U.S. can call The Trevor Project’s own helpline number and receive support. As for the 988 number, a youth needs to be located in California in order to be connected with a counselor at one of the 12 call centers in the Golden State.

Bi Bay Area leaders to tie the knot
Wedding bells await two prominent bisexual leaders in the Bay Area who got engaged while visiting the famous (and much photographed) Hakone Shrine in Hakone, Japan. Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose) popped the question to Jaria Jaug, elected last month president of the Berryessa Union School District Board, on the shores of Lake Ashi across from the iconic red torii gate with the snow-capped Mount Fuji off in the distance. 

Lee, 30, made their engagement public via an Instagram post on New Year’s Eve. He became the first bi member of the state Legislature in 2020, and two years later Jaug became the youngest woman and first openly bi member of her school board. Now 26, she is the associate director of care policy for Working Partnerships USA.

Both will need to seek reelection this year if they are to remain on their respective governing bodies. For Lee, chair of the Legislature’s Progressive Caucus, his filing deadline is in early March for the June 2 primary election to advance onto the November ballot, on which the race for Jaug’s school board seat will be.

In order to avoid having to pay the filing fee, Lee is once again collecting more than 1,000 signatures in order to qualify for the primary race. Throughout this month on select weekend days, he will be at coffee shops and other venues across his district, which includes Fremont, Milpitas, Newark, Sunol, and Berryessa in northern San Jose.

“Most candidates pay the expensive fee to avoid this requirement, but not us. We’re going to be out there again to collect the signatures to get on the ballot to really prove the power of people-powered campaigns,” stated Lee.

For exact times and locations of where Lee will be, sign up for his campaign emails at votealexlee.com.

And the couple’s pending nuptials are sure to be celebrated at Lee’s annual Lunar New Year dim sum fundraiser, his largest event to raise campaign funds. It will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, February 28, at the Mayflower Restaurant in Milpitas.

Tickets start at $188 each and can be bought online here.

Political Notes, the notebook's online companion column, returns Monday, January 12.

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Got a tip on LGBTQ politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or email [email protected] .

If you are experiencing a crisis, call The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or visit thetrevorproject.org .