This month, we are learning more about the organization Trevor Project and how it works to support the LGBTQ+ community. This organization is one of the four nonprofits that will receive a grant from the Mama Bears Giving Circle in September 2022. We had the pleasure of speaking directly with their team to gain additional insight about what they do. Here is the information they wanted to share with the Mama Bears!
Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people. The organization works to save young lives by providing support through free and confidential suicide prevention and crisis intervention programs on platforms where young people spend their time: a 24/7 phone lifeline, chat, and text. The organization also runs TrevorSpace, the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth, and operates innovative education, research, and advocacy programs.
The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 in the wake of the short Oscar-winning film Trevor, which depicted a young gay person considering suicide. In the process of creating and promoting the film, Trevor’s founders discovered that there was no service catering specifically to the needs of LGBTQ young people in crisis like the fictional character Trevor. They paused the airing of the film to found The Trevor Project. On the night the film aired, they launched TrevorLifeline, the country’s first LGBTQ crisis-intervention hotline. TrevorLifeline has been fielding calls from LGBTQ young people ever since. TrevorLifeline was created to reduce the loneliness, anxiety, depression, and fear many LGBTQ young people experience just for being different. It has been groundbreaking in its impact ever since. Our services now include TrevorText and TrevorChat, all of which are available free and 24/7 to any LGBTQ young person that needs us.
The Trevor Project produces original research, including monthly research briefs, quarterly research reports, and peer-reviewed journal articles, to discover the most effective means to help LGBTQ youth in crisis and expand the knowledge base for fellow researchers, policymakers, and other youth-serving organizations around the globe.
The Trevor Project advocates for pro-LGBTQ policies — including protections against the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy, LGBTQ-inclusive data collection, and the Model School District Policy for Suicide Prevention — and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric/policy positions, particularly those targeting the rights of transgender and nonbinary youth.
The Trevor Project educates partners, governments, peer organizations, and youth-serving adults on LGBTQ young people, mental health, and suicide prevention. Training topics include LGBTQ 101, DEI, mental health in the workplace, suicide prevention, and more.
You can support The Trevor Project’s work by donating at TheTrevorProject.org/Donate. Your life-saving gift can help us expand our advocacy efforts, train a record number of crisis counselors, and provide all of our crisis services 24/7.
Learn More About Trevor Project
