Day 4: ASB visits the Trevor Project!

Today we got up extra early (9 am) for a special visit to the New York headquarters of the Trevor Project, an organization that works to prevent LGBTQ youth suicide by providing the only 24/7 crisis hotline specifically for LGBTQ youth. When we got there they were super friendly and amazing hosts (thanks for having us!). They showed us around their facilities, including showing us several executive offices. After the tour our host Sandra gave us a presentation about the origins of the Trevor Project and what it does today.

One part of the presentation I thought was awesome was that the Trevor Project was started in conjunction with Ellen DeGeneres when she hosted a screening of "Trevor," a documentary about a boy who attempts suicide while grappling with his sexuality. When Ellen had decided to host this documentary (in 1998), she noticed that there might be young people watching who need someone to talk to. At that time, there were no resources, and thus the Trevor Project was born.  We also learned the impact that the Trevor Project has had on LGBTQ youth. For instance, since its inception, the Trevor Project has answered over 400,000 calls! Additionally, it has built a social media site (called TrevorSpace), a chat site, and an option to text if someone cannot call.

After the presentation, we got a chance to speak with several executives including Steve Mendelson  (Deputy Executive Director), Shawn Steiner (Communications & Marketing Director), and David Bond (Vice President of Programs). They answered tons of questions we had about how the Trevor Project engages with the community and how they help influence laws pertaining to LGBTQ youth. They also had great insight about how to get involved and how to help spread awareness of the issues that face LGBTQ youth.

 Hearing from these guys was so cool and it has motivated me to get involved with LGBTQ youth projects (and maybe even the Trevor Project itself) in D.C.. I was so impressed and moved by what the Trevor Project does! One take away they had us do (and you should too!) is to put the Trevor Project as a contact in your phone. You may never need it, but it's something that can be critical if you have a friend in crisis. Having a resource on hand can make a huge difference!

Trevor Project Crisis Hotline: 1-866-488-7386

                                                                                                                  -Taylor