Trevor Project

Trevor Project
Name	Trevor Project
Founded	1998
Founders	Peggy Rajski, James Lecesne, Randy Stone
Headquarters	West Hollywood, California
Area served	United States
Mission	Crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth
Key people	Amit Paley

Trevor Project is an American nonprofit established in 1998 providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth. Founded by filmmakers and activists connected to the short film The Trevor Project, the organization operates national helplines, digital outreach, research, and advocacy programs. It collaborates with a range of organizations, policymakers, and academic institutions to expand services and influence public policy.

History

The organization emerged after the 1994 short film Trevor prompted conversations among creators including Peggy Rajski, James Lecesne, and Randy Stone about youth suicide and LGBTQ issues. Early development involved partnerships with production companies and arts organizations such as Palm Pictures and outreach to community centers like The LGBT Community Center in New York City. In the 2000s it expanded services during policy debates involving the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and state-level civil rights measures, aligning with advocacy groups including Human Rights Campaign and youth organizations like Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network to address bullying and school climate. Leadership transitions and fundraising events drew attention from public figures who participated in benefit events and media collaborations with outlets including The New York Times and Good Morning America.

Services and Programs

Trevor Project operates multiple channels: a 24/7 phone hotline, text messaging, and chat services modeled after crisis lines such as National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and techniques used by academic programs at universities like Columbia University and Harvard University. Training initiatives include gatekeeper training similar to programs from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and curriculum partnerships with school districts and nonprofits such as PFLAG and The Trevor Project-related educational efforts. Programs targeting marginalized youth coordinate with community health centers like Fenway Health and advocacy coalitions including GLAAD to address intersections with homelessness providers like The Ali Forney Center and juvenile justice systems in jurisdictions including Los Angeles County.

Crisis Intervention and Research

Crisis intervention combines volunteer and professional counselor models influenced by standards from American Psychological Association and clinical research institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and University of California, Los Angeles. The organization publishes reports and surveys in collaboration with research partners such as The Trevor Project-commissioned studies and academic centers at Yale University and University of Michigan examining suicide ideation, protective factors, and disparities among subgroups including transgender youth and youth of color. Data from these reports have been cited in policy hearings before legislatures like the California State Legislature and federal briefings involving committees of the United States Congress.

Advocacy and Policy

Advocacy efforts have engaged coalitions with civil rights groups including Lambda Legal, National Center for Transgender Equality, and national education associations like National Education Association to oppose discriminatory legislation and to promote inclusive school policies such as anti-bullying measures and nondiscrimination ordinances. The organization's testimony and research have been referenced during debates over state laws impacting transgender health and school access in states such as Florida and Texas, and during federal rulemaking at agencies like the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. Campaigns have included voter engagement and public awareness initiatives that intersect with media campaigns across outlets including CNN, The Washington Post, and community radio networks.

Funding and Governance

Funding sources comprise individual donations, grants from philanthropic foundations such as Ford Foundation and community-focused funders including Open Society Foundations, corporate partnerships with companies in the tech sector like Google and Facebook, and proceeds from benefit events featuring entertainers and public figures who support LGBTQ youth. Governance is overseen by a board of directors that has included leaders from nonprofit, academic, and corporate sectors, with executive leadership accountable to nonprofit regulatory frameworks including requirements in Internal Revenue Code provisions governing 501(c)(3) organizations. Financial audits and transparency practices mirror standards promoted by watchdog organizations like Charity Navigator and GuideStar.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters cite reductions in crisis outcomes attributable to timely interventions, widespread training of educators and clinicians, and research that informed policy changes in school districts and state agencies such as Department of Education (California). The organization has been recognized by awards and honors from arts and advocacy institutions including honors presented at ceremonies covered by Emmy Awards-adjacent events and philanthropic recognitions. Criticism has arisen from conservative groups and some policymakers who argue about the role of crisis organizations in debates over transgender rights in the United States and parental rights, and from researchers calling for more granular data sharing and independent evaluation akin to practices at academic centers including RAND Corporation and Brookings Institution. Debates continue over confidentiality, mandated reporting, and the balance between crisis intervention and broader systemic reforms pursued by allies such as Center for American Progress and civil liberties advocates including ACLU.

Category:LGBT youth organizations in the United States