The Trevor Project is an American nonprofit organization founded in 1998. Focused on suicideprevention 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
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 filmTrevor, 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 November 2009, the project was contracted by the Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force, located in Tulare County, California.[9] With this agreement, the project received public funds for the first time. 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 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.[10]
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.[11] In October 2022 The Trevor Project launched free digital services in Mexico.[12]
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.[13] 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
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."[14] 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."[15][16]
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.[17]
2023 labor dispute
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.[18] Friends of Trevor responded by filing an Unfair Labor Practice complaint, alleging targeted retaliation.[19]
^Myers, J., ed. (2013). Historical dictionaries of religions, philosophies, and movements: Historical dictionary of the lesbian and gay liberation movements. Rowman & Littlefield.
^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.
^"Homepage". Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
