Misinformation about Trans Lifeline’s number

I have seen people sharing 877-330-6366 as a “Canadian LGBTQ hotline” which they have “opened/donated to Americans”. This is false.

This number belongs to Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit. It does not belong to “Canada”.
It is not an “LGBTQ hotline”, it is a trans hotline.
Trans Hotline has a perfectly good US number: (877)-565-8860.
Trans Hotline is not in danger of shutting down.
- It is not part of the 988 system. They have never accepted federal hotline funding.
- Instead, Trans Hotline is funded by us: https://translifeline.org/donate/

Mislabeling their number as a general “LGBTQ hotline” has caused problems for them and their callers.

This misinformation has unfortunately led to a sharp increase in calls from people outside of our community, which limits our capacity to support the trans people our line was built to serve.

Source.

Our hotline is being incorrectly shared as “Canada’s national suicide hotline open toll free for Americans”. We are not a general crisis hotline, we exist exclusively to support the trans community.

Source.

(Is this an attempt to trick well-meaning people into flooding a trans hotline with calls they can’t accept? Well, maybe.)

They’re not going anywhere

“We will continue to provide peer-to-peer support for our community well beyond this Pride. Our hotline is funded by grassroots support, not the government, so we’ll be staying open as long as we’re needed.”.

Regarding police

Here is another piece of misinformation I found in a Facebook comment:

“I feel the Canadian line is at least not likely to call the police.”

Trans Hotline will not call the police on you unless you ask. They have been sharply critical of 988’s practice of nonconsensual police interventions, and have started a #SafeHotlines movement against this practice.

See the Trans Hotline FAQ.

Will you connect or call the police/emergency services during my call?

Trans Lifeline has a policy against nonconsensual active rescue. We will not call emergency services or law enforcement without your explicit request – even if you tell us you or someone else is in danger.

If you would like support requesting an ambulance or calling 911, we can assist you after informing you about that process and what may be triggered.

Shareables

From their facebook post

header, 'Help us correct misinformation', the word FALSE stamped on a tweet reading 'As trump shuts down the suicide hotline, Canada has broadcasted their national hotline which now has a toll-free American number' (and then the Canadian Trans Hotline number)

A bluesky thread

Please help us correct misinformation! Our hotline is being incorrectly shared as "Canada's national suicide hotline open toll free for Americans". We are not a general crisis hotline, we exist exclusively to support the trans community. Find out more @ translifeline.org

[image or embed]
— Trans Lifeline (@translifeline.org) April 28, 2025 at 4:36 PM

The Trump administration has proposed eliminating federal funding for the LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services within the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Trans Lifeline has deliberately never taken government funding for it's operation. www.them.us/story/trans-...

[image or embed]
— Trans Lifeline (@translifeline.org) April 28, 2025 at 4:36 PM

If you are trans and seeking support, you are welcome to call Trans Lifeline. US: (877) 565-8860 CAN: (877) 330-6366
— Trans Lifeline (@translifeline.org) April 28, 2025 at 4:36 PM

Another image

An image with FALSE stamped on it, crossed-out text is the same as the tweet in previous image

An image I made

This one crosses-out a more modern incantation of this misinformation.

A crossed-out tweet with 'it's misinfo sorry' written over it in red text. The tweet reads 'To my American friends: As Trump shuts down your LGBT+ suicide and mental health crisis hotline during these trying times, Canada has added a US toll-free number to ours so you can get help anytime you need at no cost. Kindness and empathy have no borders.' and then the Canadian Trans Hotline number. Instagram-captioned '@occupy democrats' and 'Someone shared this with me. Worth putting out there.'

Links

Clarification: Misinformation About Our Hotline Number. https://translifeline.org/clarifying-misinformation-about-our-hotline-number/

This Facebook post by them: https://www.facebook.com/TransLifeline/posts/-misinformation-alert-our-hotline-is-being-incorrectly-shared-as-canadas-nationa/1106887618150526/

Their FAQ: https://translifeline.org/hotline/#faq

#SafeHotlines: https://translifeline.org/safe-hotlines/