Press

Statement from The Trevor Project in response to Nex Benedict

*** For any media coverage that mentions suicide, The Trevor Project encourages reporters to visit reportingonsuicide.org to ensure responsible reporting that relies on best practices from the field, encourages help-seeking behavior among readers, and avoids influencing behavior negatively by contributing to contagion.*** “We are deeply heartbroken to learn that Nex Benedict died by suicide after enduring extreme bullying and attacks at their school,” said Peggy Rajski, Founder and Interim CEO of The Trevor Project. “While this horrific loss has seized national attention, we also know that, tragically, it is not uncommon. LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times more…
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Women’s History is Trans History

Women’s History Month is meant to commemorate women’s vital contributions to society, and while we know a lot about the Suffragettes and Title IX, people like Susan B. Anthony and Billie Jean King, trans women have been historically left out of the month-long recognition. Advancements in rights for the entire LGBTQ+ community can be traced back to the tireless efforts and creative resistance of trans women. Because of the double forces of transphobia and misogyny, fundamental rights many take for granted, like housing, employment, medical care, and social support, remain difficult to attain for trans women and transfeminine people. LGBTQ+…
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Chicago’s Citypill, Where Queer Goes Without Saying

Chicago’s DIY music scene is as exciting and dynamic as the people who live here — every weekend offers opportunities to see punk shows, DJ sets, avant-garde noise, performance art, rappers, jazz and blues bands, and more, and more. And even though Chicago has so much to offer, if you don’t branch out, it can appear like the dominating force is punk bands lead by white cis guys. No shade to those punk bands (I love many of them!), but I spent my adolescence in the DIY punk scene. After many years, the same chord progressions can get monotonous. And…
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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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More than Half of LGBTQ+ Young People in Mexico Seriously Considered Suicide in the Past Year

The Trevor Project’s first-ever study on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth in Mexico surveyed more than 10,000 young people February 21, 2024 - The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, released its inaugural 2024 Mexico National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People today, amplifying the experiences of 10,635 LGBTQ+ young people in Mexico between the ages of 13 and 24. This first-of-its-kind survey, available in both English and Spanish, was led by The Trevor Project’s Research team in the U.S. in collaboration with academic researchers from Universidad Nacional…
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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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Against the Erasure of Black Queer History

American history of resistance is a history of Black LGBTQ+ people. Advancements in civil rights and greater visibility of the LGBTQ+ community overall can be attributed to the efforts of Black LGBTQ+ folks; so much of what is popular and beloved in music, fashion, culture, and even language is because of the innovations and traditions of the Black queer diaspora. All of this is born out of the need to survive oppressive and violent conditions, distinguish themselves from their white LGBTQ+ counterparts who often enjoyed greater privilege. When there are efforts to censor Black queer history in classrooms, to prevent…
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Andrew Mortensen, Biking Across the World for Trevor

Starting in 2020, Andrew Mortensen felt the gloom of COVID-19. Initially searching for a way to spend more time outdoors, he took the small step of biking between two national parks in the Pacific Northwest. Little did he know that his journey would eventually span 37 countries and over 27,000 miles, making him the first openly gay man to cycle around the globe, from North America to the tip of South America, from Spain to Singapore. Along the way, Andrew fundraised over $19,000 for The Trevor Project and wore an orange Trevor t-Shirt to spread the message of hope that…
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How The Trevor Project is Advocating for LGBTQ+ Young People During the 2024 Legislative Season

An interview with Janson Wu (he/him), Sr. Director, State Advocacy & Government Written by Ryan Bernsten (he/him), Senior Managing Editor RYAN: Let’s start really high-level. Why is the 2024 legislative season so important? JANSON: We've already seen close to 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced already in 2024. Last year we saw a record-breaking 600+ anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced, and 82 of those passed into law. This year, we're seeing our opponents double down on the breadth and cruelty of their attacks. Where we saw gender-affirming care bans targeting youth last year, we're now seeing restrictions for adult care. Where we once saw…
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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…