David Tsai
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Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with David Tsai

This AAPI Heritage Month and always, The Trevor Project is here to celebrate stories of powerful trailblazers who have forged an inspiring path toward inclusivity, acceptance, and representation for AAPI queer young people. To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, The Trevor Project is sharing stories from our community to supporters. David Tsai is one of our donors and a leader in the law community — we’re lucky to have him as a role model and part of our community. David Tsai is a law Partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. David has been quoted in various business and technology publications…
Logo for Jewish American Heritage Month on orange background.
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Exploring Identity for Jewish American Heritage Month

As May rolls around, we recognize Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich cultural history and contributions of Jewish Americans. As someone from a family with Jewish heritage, this month is a moment to connect to a tradition that is both religious and cultural. I have often been called “one ‘i’ away from having a Jewish last name” (my surname is Bernsten, but often misspelled as Bernstein)and, though I was not raised in a Jewish family, my paternal grandmother came from an Ashkenazi Jewish family in Lithuania and my identity – whether or not I could consider…
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Celebrating Ramadan as an LGBTQ Person

Muslims are finishing their final fasts of the holy month of Ramadan. For the last time this month, we will recite prayers, donate to charitable causes, and reflect upon our lives. Soon we will celebrate Eid, a celebratory day for exchanging gifts, sharing food with family and neighbors, and existing in community. The story for young LGBTQ Muslims can be a bit more complicated — it certainly was for me. Ramadan meant putting my faith on full display at school. The response from peers spanned from curious questions — "you can’t even drink water?” — to more hateful comments. On…
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Celebrating Middle Eastern and North African Heritage Month: An Interview with Michael and Zak Zakar

Michael & Zak Zakar describe themselves as the Middle Eastern Mary-Kate & Ashley. They aim to represent the underrepresented voices of proud Middle Easterners in the entertainment industry and have published a book, Pray the Gay Away, about their upbringing. Can you talk about the intersection of your queer and Arab American heritage? Michael: It seems like the question to our people is a paradox in itself. Like it’s impossible to be both, have layers. It’s important to recognize that people like us exist in our home country and in the states. If anyone should be leading the revolution on…
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What Supporting Black LGBTQ Young People Really Looks Like

Being Black is hard. Due to the unique historical and current systems of oppression we face, the simple feat of continuing to exist and thrive in this country is an act of sheer rebellion for Black people. Countless scholars have illustrated myriad challenges to physical and mental health that Black people face, all stemming from systematic discrimination and racism. Mental health care providers and researchers alike have long been sounding the alarm about the mental health crisis among Black young people, specifically pointing to increasing rates of suicide. Still, in many ways reflective of our tenacity, Black people are incredibly…
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Celebrating Transgender Day Of Visibility With Black And Trans @ Trevor

International Transgender Day of Visibility, celebrated on March 31, is an annual day dedicated to celebrating trans people, their contributions to history and culture, the vibrant intersections of gender with other held identities, and speaking out against the ongoing prevalence of anti-trans discrimination. To our trans and nonbinary community across the nation and the world: we love you, we are here for you, and you are beautiful, incredible, and indispensable. Join us in celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility with two members of The Trevor Project affinity groups Black@Trevor and Trans@Trevor, Jesse Medina and Marcus Sanders, as they reflect upon the…
George M. Johnson
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George M. Johnson Is Writing The Roadmap For Black LGBTQ Representation

Amidst a wave of book bans sweeping the nation, George M. Johnson (they/them), award-winning author of the New York Times Bestselling 2020 young adult memoir “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” is ready to fight against everybody trying to silence Black queer writers.  It was in September of last year when George first heard their memoir was being banned in a county in Kansas City, MO. Initially, they laughed about it. Within four weeks, their memoir was being contested in schools and libraries in eight states, and as of now, the number has risen to 19.  George’s laughter then turned to action.…