‘EVIL!’: Republican Gov. Removes LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention Resources Sparking Outrage

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) administration quietly removed LGBTQ+ youth resources from a state website after a conservative media outlet questioned the links, according to records seen by The Washington Post.

“Within hours of an inquiry from the Daily Wire, a dozen resources, including a live-chat online support group for teens, were removed from the state health department website at the direction of a Cabinet-level agency, according to emails obtained under the state’s open records law,” the Post reported on Thursday.

“The presence of the materials — and their subsequent disappearance on May 31 — generated two headlines and a flurry of online reaction from conservative readers of the outlet, co-founded by right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro. The decision elicited concern from department leaders who had not been consulted and began emailing their higher-ups asking why this had happened — again,” the report noted.

The Youngkin administration has removed information from the website without consulting its own subject-matter experts at least three times in the year and a half, records show.

His actions have stripped public health resources on abortions, sexual health and pregnancy among other issues as he remakes state policy after eight years of Democratic control.

A screenshot of the removed resource page shows a link to the TREVOR Project, an organization that provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people.

“In Virginia, the governor will always reaffirm a parent’s role in their child’s life. Children belong to their parents, not the state,” Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said in a statement. “The governor supports providing resources that are age appropriate however the government should not facilitate anonymous conversations between adults and children without a parent’s approval. Sexualizing children against a parent’s wishes doesn’t belong on a taxpayer supported website.”

She added that state officials are “reviewing other elements of the page.”

The Washington Post’s revelations have sparked outrage online.

This is just evil. I don’t know how else to describe it.

— 12fan (@12fan5) July 6, 2023

Cruelty is the point

— debcombs ☮️ (@debcombs14) July 6, 2023

Truly protecting the kids I see

— EldritchKvn, M3gan's Bestie (@KvnRaptor) July 6, 2023