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Train the Trainer: New Educational Program for LGBTQ+ Allies

When inclusive spaces come under attack by lawmakers across the country, the need for education grows greater. When adults are given the proper tools and training, they transform into supportive allies, which can make all the difference in defending against those attacks.  At The Trevor Project, our Education team helps adults (educators, coaches, community leaders and more) understand the needs of LGBTQ+ young people. We equip them with the knowledge they need to affirm, uplift, and advocate for those young people. We empower people to become the best allies they can be — especially important considering the impact supportive adults…
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Valentine’s Day and the Power of Affirmation

Many of us may think of the obligatory V-Day dinners with a romantic partner and exchanging candy at work and school, but we don’t often think about affirming love during the holiday. During the first week of February, The Trevor Project invited ten incredible LGBTQ+ young people on set in Pasadena to capture their stories for our 2024 Pride campaign. Members of the content team had the opportunity to film with, talk with, and laugh with these trailblazing young people hailing from Albany to Jacksonville, Milwaukee to Nashville, Philadelphia to San Diego. Directing the interviews for our social room, I…
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How to Go Home for the Holidays

Despite having two parents who loved me, a home, food, and clothes, I had pediatric depression. Christmas — the holiday that my family celebrates — became a primary challenge in my elementary school years. For whatever reason, whether it was the compulsory joy or the forced extended time spent with family, I found it nearly impossible to be happy on December 25. This was met with confusion and eventually anger from my mom, whose favorite holiday is Christmas. If she noticed my moping, I was to smile immediately. “Smile, wear the red velvet dress and white tights. I don’t care…
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Be the One with Donor Mikki Brooke

Our donors show us how to be the one every single day – their support is a crucial part of our community and their life-saving gifts make our work possible. Whether big or small, every donation helps us build a world where LGBTQ+ young people see a bright future for themselves. Millions of LGBTQ+ young people consider suicide each year, many without access to mental health resources. Last year, The Trevor Project served over half a million contacts and gave them a safe space through our intervention services. You can be the one by making a life-saving donation and ensure…
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The Power of Affirmation: Stories from Trevor Staff

The Power of Affirmation: Stories from Trevor Staff Affirmation is life-giving. It is an incredibly powerful feeling to be understood, accepted, and celebrated for who you are, especially when understanding and affirmation are hard to come by. So many LGBTQ+ young people struggle to find that affirmation, whether at school, in their own homes, or with themselves. And holidays approaching reminds many LGBTQ+ young people of places they cannot be themselves. We deeply wish for every LGBTQ+ young person to have at least one person they can rely on for support (which is why we’re here 24/7) because we know…
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Nova Bright-Williams On Trans Day of Remembrance

Today marks my tenth Trans Day of Remembrance with The Trevor Project, but within our broader movement, this important day dates back to 1999. It was started by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a trans activist, as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a trans woman who had been killed in 1998. Today, it has grown into a global observance that serves as a stark reminder of the continuous struggle for trans rights and acceptance. As a trans woman who has found so much joy, acceptance, and peace this year, it feels especially important for me to take time today…
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Celebrating Native American Heritage Month with Rep. Sharice Davids

Written by Ryan Bernsten (he/him), Senior Managing Editor Rep. Sharice Davids (she/her) is currently serving Kansas’s 3rd Congressional District in Congress. Sharice was raised by a single mom who spent more than 20 years serving in the US Army. She worked her way from Johnson County Community College to Cornell Law School, juggling multiple jobs to put herself through school. Sharice went on to work in economic and community development on Native American reservations, helping tribes to create programs and initiatives for growth. This work inspired her to apply for the prestigious White House Fellows program, where she served under…
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How You Can Be The One

Here at Trevor, we’ve been talking a lot about what it means to be the one for LGBTQ young people, especially as the year wraps up and we look to the (potentially tough) holiday season.You may have heard this before, but it bears repeating: for an LGBTQ young person, having at least one accepting adult in their life can lower odds of suicide risk by 40%.  This is more than just a statistic for us — it’s a reality we’ve seen in the individual lives of the LGBTQ young people we serve time and time again for 25 years. And…
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Making LGBTQ+ History Happen

This LGBTQ+ History Month, we’re remembering past trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Harvey Milk, and more, but we’re also looking forward to making more history. In a time of increased hostility toward LGBTQ+ people, and with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation still on the rise, the need for liberation is now. And when it comes to LGBTQ+ young people, their mental health is paying the price: 71% of LGBTQ+ youth — including 86% of trans and nonbinary youth — say state laws restricting the rights of LGBTQ+ young people have negatively impacted their mental health. They deserve to see a…
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Celebrating Asexual Awareness Week

Asexual Awareness Week or Ace Awareness Week is celebrated October 22-28, 2023 and is a time to support and better understand the experiences of asexual or ace individuals. It is crucial to recognize that asexuality has often been marginalized, overshadowed, or even erased from discussions about identity and sexuality. This week, we at Trevor aim to affirm the existence, validity, and diversity of asexual experiences. Asexuality, as a sexual orientation, is characterized by a lack of sexual attraction to others. It's essential to distinguish asexuality from aromanticism, a romantic orientation that refers to individuals who do not experience romantic attraction.…