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The Trevor Project

Coordinates: 34°05′14″N 118°22′48″W / 34.08717°N 118.38006°W / 34.08717; -118.38006
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The Trevor Project
FoundedMarch 25, 1998; 26 years ago (1998-03-25)[1]
Founders
95-4681287[3]
Legal status501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
FocusCrisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth[3]
HeadquartersWest Hollywood, California, U.S.[3]
Coordinates34°05′14″N 118°22′48″W / 34.08717°N 118.38006°W / 34.08717; -118.38006
MethodSuicide prevention through its free and confidential lifeline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources, and advocacy.[3]
Julian Moore[2]
Jaymes Black[2]
RevenueUS$29,598,014[4] (2020)
ExpensesUS$18,948,654[4] (2020)
Employees97[3] (2016)
Volunteers925[3] (2016)
Websitethetrevorproject.org

The Trevor Project is an American nonprofit organization founded in 1998. Focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, they offer a toll-free telephone number where confidential assistance is provided by trained counselors. The stated goals of the project are to provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for youth (defined by the organization as people under 25), as well as to offer guidance and resources to parents and educators in order to foster safe, accepting, and inclusive environments for all youth, at home, schools and colleges.[5][6]

History

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Then-senator Al Franken discussing LGBT suicide and the Trevor Project

The project was founded in 1998[1] in West Hollywood, California, by Celeste Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone. They are the creators of the 1994 Academy Award–winning short film Trevor, a dramedy about Trevor, a gay thirteen-year-old boy who, when rejected by friends because of his sexuality, attempts suicide. When the film was scheduled to air on HBO television in 1998, the filmmakers realized that some of the program's young viewers might be facing the same kind of crisis as Trevor and began to search for a support line to be broadcast during the airing. They discovered that no such helpline existed and decided to dedicate themselves to forming the resource: an organization to promote acceptance of LGBTQ youth, and to aid in crisis and suicide prevention among that group.[7]

The Trevor Lifeline was established with seed funds provided by The Colin Higgins Foundation and HBO's license fee. As a result, it became the first nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth.[8] The project also provides online support to young people through the project's website, as well as guidance and resources to educators and parents.

In 2004 the organization released an educational kit for both educators and youth service providers which included a copy of the short film, a teaching guide (to be used with the film), cards with the hotline number, and posters.[9]

2005 saw the release of "Dear Trevor", an online question and answer forum which allowed for people to anonymously ask and answer "non-urgent" questions regarding sexual orientation and identity.[9]

While continuing various educational and media campaigns (including a PSA with Daniel Radcliffe)[10] in 2006 a new short documentary was released consisting of interviews with hotline staff telling stories of calls from LGBTQ youth that they had received.[11]

By 2007 the hotline had received over 100,000 calls since its inception, over 3000 education kits had been distributed, and hundreds of questions had been asked through the "Dear Trevor" online forum from around the world.[9] During National Suicide Prevention Week a digital advertisement campaign named "Don't Erase Your Queer Future" was undertaken which included banner ads on social media websites and The Trevor Project website which encouraged reflection by displaying quotes and progressively erasing words to show how many artistic, cultural, and social contributions would be lost if prominent LGBTQ people would have committed suicide.[12][13] Additionally, a new PSA with various celebrities was released.[14]

In June 2009, seven Tulare County volunteers completed The Trevor Project Lifeguard Workshop Facilitator training. “Lifeguard workshops” have been done in schools in Tulare County municipalities, including Dinuba, Lindsay, Porterville and Visalia, as well as in Hanford in adjacent Kings County. In November 2009, the Trevor Project was contracted by the Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force, located in Tulare County, California.[15] With this agreement, the project received public funds for the first time. Additionally, Sensis provided their digital marketing services including a website redesign and social network marketing on both Facebook and the Trevor Projects own social media website "Trevor Space" (which is still currently operating).[16][17]

In 2021, the first openly gay active NFL player, Carl Nassib, used his coming out to also announce a $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project.[18]

From 2016 to 2022 the CEO of The Trevor Project was Amit Paley. During this period the Trevor Project grew its revenue from $5M to over $60M which included a financial reserve of $50M.[4] In 2019, for the first time in the organization's history TrevorText went from limited operating hours to a 24/7 text and chat counseling services.[19] In October 2022 The Trevor Project launched free digital services in Mexico.[20]

In November 2022, The Trevor Project's Board of Directors announced that Amit Paley had been removed effective immediately. The organization's Board of Directors announced that co-founder, Peggy Rajski, would be the interim CEO.[21] Following this news, media outlets also reported that over 200 employees had signed a letter expressing their displeasure with former CEO, Amit Paley, and numerous employees had expressed concerns over the organization's growth and his ability to manage effectively.

Research

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The Trevor Project also undertakes mental health research focusing on LGBTQ youth. According to the project's strategic plan, "The Trevor Project will expand the scale of its flagship national survey while continuing to grow visibility and general public consumption of its research; and to incorporate new studies, scientific advances, and research protocols to build on its thought leadership and the impact of its programs."[22] As of 2022, research found that 14% of LGBTQ youth reported a past-year suicide attempt, with LGBTQ youth of color and transgender and nonbinary reporting higher rates illustrating the importance of examining findings intersectionally."[23][24]

Projects

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Suicide
Social aspects
Crisis
Types and methods
Epidemiology
History
In warfare
Related phenomena
By country
Organizations

School workshops

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The project's Lifeguard Workshop Program uses a structured, age-appropriate curriculum to address topics around sexuality, gender identity, the impacts of language and behavior, and what it means for young people to feel different. The program also teaches young people to recognize depression and suicide amongst their peers, the impacts of language and behavior on LGBTQ youth, and suicide prevention skills in schools.[25]

2023 labor dispute

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In April 2023, Trevor Project staffers formed Friends of Trevor United, a union affiliated with CWA. In July, during collective bargaining, management terminated 12% of bargaining unit employees, about one-third of whom were union leaders.[26] Friends of Trevor responded by filing an Unfair Labor Practice complaint, alleging targeted retaliation.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "The Trevor Project, Inc. Archived September 16, 2019, at the Wayback Machine" Business Entity Detail. California Secretary of State. Retrieved on September 10, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Founders, Board, Staff Archived March 2, 2019, at the Wayback Machine". The Trevor Project. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Alberts, Lily; Deloitte Tax LLP (September 11, 2018). Return of organization exempt from income tax 2016: Trevor Project Inc (PDF) (Form 990). ‹See Tfd›EIN 954681287. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 6, 2020 – via Guidestar.
  4. ^ a b c Ballantine, Lena; Singerlewak LLP (June 14, 2021). Return of organization exempt from income tax 2019: Trevor Project Inc (Form 990). ‹See Tfd›EIN 954681287. Retrieved June 7, 2024 – via ProPublica.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "The Trevor Project | For Young LGBTQ Lives". The Trevor Project. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Myers, J., ed. (2013). Historical dictionaries of religions, philosophies, and movements: Historical dictionary of the lesbian and gay liberation movements. Rowman & Littlefield.
  7. ^ "The Trevor Project - NYC Service". www.nycservice.org. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  8. ^ Staff (October 13, 1998). "Trevor Lends a 24-Hour Ear to Youth". p. 14. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2011. ...the nation's first toll-free 24-hour suicide prevention hot line for gay and questioning youth.
  9. ^ a b c "The Organization". The Trevor Project. 2007. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007.
  10. ^ The Trevor Project (2006). "Daniel Radcliffe PSA for The Trevor Project". YouTube. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  11. ^ The Trevor Project (2006). "Stories from the Frontlines". YouTube. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  12. ^ Rapp, Linda (2007). "The Trevor Project" (PDF). Glbtq Encyclopedia Project. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  13. ^ The Trevor Project (September 9, 2007). "Don't Erase Your Queer Future". Don't Erase Your Queer Future. Archived from the original on September 13, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  14. ^ The Trevor Project (2007). "The Trevor Project 2007 PSA". YouTube.
  15. ^ "Homepage". Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  16. ^ "TrevorSpace - Community for LGBTQ young people". www.trevorspace.org. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  17. ^ Maul, Kimberly (February 18, 2009). "Trevor Project Gets Pro-Bono Digital Support". PrWeek. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Gutierrez, Paul (June 21, 2021). "Carl Nassib of Las Vegas Raiders announces he is gay, pledges $100,000 to Trevor Project". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  19. ^ Burkholder, Katie (May 2019). "The Trevor Project Launches 24/7 Text and Chat Support". Georgia Voice.
  20. ^ Levesque, Brody (October 13, 2022). "Trevor Project launches crisis services for LGBTQ youth in Mexico". Washington Blade.
  21. ^ Cooper, Alex (November 8, 2022). "The Trevor Project Ousts CEO Amit Paley Amid Concerns From Staff". Advocate.
  22. ^ "The Trevor Project: Strategic Plan".
  23. ^ Price, Myeshia (2022). "7.3 Intersectional Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ Youth at the Trevor Project". Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 61 (10): S12. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2022.07.051. S2CID 252888196.
  24. ^ Canady, Valerie A. (August 22, 2022). "Trevor Project explores MH of multiracial LGBTQ youth". Mental Health Weekly. 32 (33): 7–8. doi:10.1002/mhw.33346. S2CID 251729260.
  25. ^ Hurley, Morgan M. (February 1, 2010). "Sponsors Thrilled To Support First Conference To Educate Counselors of LGBTQI Students". San Diego Gay & Lesbian News. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  26. ^ Owen, Greg (August 10, 2023). "Trevor Project in crisis: Management & financial woes threaten suicide prevention group's existence". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  27. ^ "The Trevor Project Workers Speak Out Against Anti-Union Attacks and Blatant Mistreatment, Fight to Secure Nonprofit's Core Mission to Support LGBTQ+ Youth". Communications Workers of America. July 31, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
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