Our Youth Deserve Better Than This Bill: HMI’s Response to Federal Cuts

HMI’s Response to the One Big Beautiful Bill—and What’s at Stake for LGBTQIA+ Youth

New York City stands at the epicenter of the fallout from the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. What may be a policy shift for some is a public health crisis for millions of New Yorkers. With sky-high Medicaid enrollment, an overburdened hospital system that serves all regardless of ability to pay, and widespread reliance on ACA subsidies to afford coverage, our city is uniquely vulnerable to the bill’s sweeping cuts.

For LGBTQIA+ youth—particularly here in NYC—the stakes are even higher. These young people disproportionately rely on Medicaid and ACA subsidies to access basic and lifesaving care, from mental health support to gender-affirming treatment. With the bill gutting these programs, LGBTQIA+ youth face skyrocketing rates of uninsurance, increased risk of homelessness, and the loss of protections that shield them from discrimination in healthcare. In a city where so many queer and trans youth already navigate poverty, rejection, and trauma, this bill doesn’t just cut funding—it pulls the rug out from under an already fragile safety net.

These changes will push more people—especially trans and nonbinary individuals—into crisis, while the very organizations that serve them face funding shortfalls and added strain. Organizations will be forced to do more with less.

HMI is no longer a supplement to the system—we are the remaining safety net for our youth.

We don’t rely on federal funding.
We are nimble, community-driven, and boldly affirming.
Where the federal government has walked away, we remain.

In response to this escalating crisis, HMI is:

Expanding our free, best-in-class mental health services for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13–24
Training youth-serving organizations nationwide to deliver culturally responsive, affirming care
Innovating partnerships across public, private, and community sectors to fill critical service gaps
Driving city and state investment in LGBTQIA+ youth mental health and care access
Mobilizing philanthropic support to replace withdrawn federal funding and ensure sustainability

In this moment of national retreat, our response is bold and unapologetic. The queer and trans youth we serve are not victims of a broken system—they are visionaries, leaders, and survivors building a better one. They deserve care that reflects their brilliance, resilience, and right to thrive.

With your partnership, we can meet this moment not with fear, but with purpose—forging new pathways for healing, dignity, and joy. Stand with us, and with the young people who are lighting the way forward.