We have highlighted The Trevor Project numerous times, through blogs and Instagram spotlights, and there is now a permanent link to the Trevor Project website on our "help in crisis" resource page. We at Affirming Quakers discuss them so much because we know that the work they are doing is good and necessary and life saving. Their mission statement is one we are 100% behind.
The Trevor Project's mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people.
We have never taken the opportunity to highlight the history behind this organization and some other ways that people in our Affirming Quakers community could get involved with the work already being done.
The History
Who is Trevor? How did The Trevor Project begin? The Trevor Project was born from the work of writer/performer Celeste Lecesne (he/they) and producers Peggy Rajski and Randy Stone.
Lecesne wrote a one-man show called, "WORD OF MOUTH," about the character and life of Trevor, a 13-year-old LGBTQ+ boy who attempts suicide. When asked how they came up with the character of Trevor, Lecesne says they heard about the high suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth. They were appalled that there wasn't much being done about it. They decided to read their own journals from when they were young.
For the first time in years, I was reminded of just how confusing it had been for me as an adolescent, how painful and lonely. Here was my story. I then wrote the first few lines of a story about a 13-year-old boy who confides to his journal. I called him "Trevor".
After watching the play, the producers thought it would make an impactful short film and Lecesne agreed to adapt it into a screenplay. "TREVOR" premiered in 1994 and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, among many other awards. Winning these awards gave Lecesne "hope that the world could change" and inspired them to not give up the fight against LGBTQ+ youth suicide. You can watch the award winning short film here.
When the producers landed an airing on HBO with Ellen DeGeneres as the host, they realized there was a mental health crisis in which young LGBTQ+ people had no where to turn.
[Peggy Rajski] quickly recruited mental health experts and figured out how to build the infrastructure necessary for a nationwide 24-hour crisis line, and writer Celeste Lecesne secured the funds to start it.
When "TREVOR" aired on HBO in 1998, they also launched the Trevor Lifeline, a first of it's kind, "national crisis intervention and suicide prevention lifeline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning youth." It has only grown from there, becoming a national name for young people to turn to in crisis. They since have added life-affirming, life-saving resources such as Trevor Lifeline, TrevorChat, TrevorSpace, and Trevor Education Workshops.
How you can get involved
We have highlighted The Trevor Project so many times before as a resource for LGBTQ+ folk who might be in a mental health crisis because they offer so many life-saving resources. But there are many ways that allies, family members, teachers, friends, caring humans can get involved with the organization.
Be a fundraiser
Organizations like The Trevor Project need funds to run their life-saving programs. Not all of us have the means to donate ourselves, but they make it easy to link their website to your Instagram posts and collect donations that go directly to them. Facebook offers an option to collect donations for a cause on your birthday and The Trevor Project is linked to take donations directly that way. This link shows other ways you can create a page, fundraise as a team, or fundraise in someone's memory.
Part of my reasoning for writing this blog was because I was recently reminded of the impact of The Trevor Project through an in memoriam Trevor Project fundraiser of someone local who passed away. I have personally raised money through social media for The Trevor Project and it is an easy way to give a little bit of money that will go a long way in saving lives.
Volunteer
The Trevor Project offers a unique way to be a virtual volunteer. You can sign up to be a crisis support volunteer. Volunteers help answer calls, chats, and texts directly from LGBTQ+ young people who need help navigating difficult times. These are the calls and chats that prevent suicide by providing contact with someone who cares.
As a Trevor counselor, you are not required to have a specific degree. However, you must graduate from their volunteer training program. To apply, you must be 18 years or older, live in the United States, make a minimum one-year commitment to serving one 3-hour shift per week, and meet technology requirements. For more information, click here.
Advocate for change
Like many organizations, there are ways for you to get involved that make real changes where it is needed most. The Trevor Project is leading the way in advocating for the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people and making preventative through legislation at the federal, state, and local levels. There are campaigns that range from ending conversion therapy, creating safe and affirming schools, and supporting Trans young people. If you are interested in more ways to get involved at the legislative level, there is more information here.
Work for the Trevor Project
If you are seeking employment, maybe The Trevor Project is for you. You can find jobs here.
Organizations like the Trevor Project
If you are interested in continuing the work of protecting precious LGBTQ+ young lives, there are many organizations that have sprouted since the founding of The Trevor Project. Many of these organizations do similar work to the Trevor Project, or advocate in different ways, We will add these to our resources page. Here are a few:
It Gets Better - If you have LGBTQ+ young people in your life, or if you are looking for information on how to be a better ally for them, this might just be the resource for you. They host a Vodcast called "Perfectly Queer," there is a glossary of LGBTQ+ terms, and they have spearheaded an ambassador program called Youth Voices where young people ages 13-18 "offer their unique stories and words of advice to other LGBTQ+ youth around the globe."
GLSEN - The mission of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network is to protect LGBTQ+ youth in the world of education. They strive to ensure that every school community values and respects their members regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. They have been working since 1990 to advise schools on policies to protect marginalized students, advocate against discrimintory legislature, and support student-led movements like Ally Week and Day of Silence. There are 43 chapters spread throughout 30 states.
You belong.
You are loved.
You are not alone.
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