Newsom Signs Bill Adding LGBTQ Crisis Hotline to Student ID Cards

California students will soon carry more than just their school ID — they’ll carry a lifeline.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 727 into law, requiring student ID cards at all public middle schools, high schools, and colleges in the state to include the phone number for The Trevor Project, a leading crisis and suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ youth.  Mental health services are crucial to ensure that LGBTQ young people feel supported and seen by those around them. LGBTQ youth often experience higher rates of suicide, anxiety, and depression because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society, demonstrating the need for services that provide mental health support. In  2024, 56% of LGBTQ young people in California experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Mental health care is critical for overall well-being, as we reported here a few weeks back, especially for youth. LGBTQ young people in schools should be equipped with the resources necessary to thrive, and providing the Trevor Project hotline is a positive step in this direction. 

The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Mark González (D–Los Angeles), builds on a 2018 law that added general suicide prevention resources to student IDs. This update makes that support more specific — and affirming — for LGBTQ students, many of whom face higher rates of mental health challenges due to bullying and harassment. 

According to The Trevor Project, 35% of LGBTQ youth in California seriously considered suicide in the past year, and half who sought mental health care didn’t receive it. With AB 727, that support becomes hard to miss — printed right on the ID cards students carry every day.

Governor Newsom said the law sends a clear message about California’s priorities:

“Every student deserves to feel safe, supported, and seen for who they are. While some in Washington turn their backs on LGBTQ youth, California is choosing compassion over cruelty. AB 727 makes it clear: your identity doesn’t disqualify you from care and community — it’s exactly why we are fighting to make it easier to reach.”

Not everyone agrees with the new mandate. Mark Trammell, CEO of the Center for American Liberty, issued a statement opposing the law:

“The Center for American Liberty condemns Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of AB 727, which forces every California student ID to promote The Trevor Project — an activist group known for encouraging children to question their gender without parental knowledge or consent. This law isn’t about compassion; it’s about control. California has once again cut parents out of the most personal and life-altering decisions a child can face. While Europe is reversing course on experimental ‘gender-affirming’ procedures for minors, California doubles down on ideology over evidence — endangering children and undermining families. The Center for American Liberty will continue to stand up for parents, defend children, and fight for truth — because real compassion means telling the truth, not hiding it.”

The debate underscores how education, parental rights, and LGBTQ support continue to collide in California’s political landscape — even as local leaders, schools, and students prepare to put the new ID cards into use.

Here in West Hollywood, where inclusion and visibility are woven into the city’s DNA, the law represents something bigger: access, dignity, and hope. Making The Trevor Project visible on every student ID reminds young people — especially queer and questioning youth — that they’re not alone, and that help is always within reach. That can only ever be a good thing.