Protect Funding for LGBT Suicide Prevention and Domestic Violence

Please call your Senator today and ask them to support these amendments to the budget.

Line item number 7010-0005: LGBT Youth Suicide Prevention Services - Amendment for $50,000

This program funds suicide prevention programs in the Department of Education. In the most recent survey conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Education, more than 40% of the LGBT youth reported that they had attempted suicide.

Line item number 4513-1130: LGBT Domestic Violence Program - Amendment for $92,000

This program funds the only LGBT-specific domestic violence program in the Commonwealth. LGBT couples have the same rate of domestic violence as heterosexual couples. Currently, this line-item is level-funded at $158,000 from FY 07 in both the House and Senate budgets. The program needs additional funds to expand their intake beds from 5 to 7. This additional appropriation will allow them to help more victims of domestic violence.