The Trevor Project : A Lifeline for LGBTQ+ Youth Around the World

Exclusive Interview with Jaymes Black (they/she/he), CEO of The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project, founded following the Oscar-winning 1994 film Trevor, is a leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth, having provided vital support to nearly 1.3 million young people through its 24/7 phone, text, and online chat services, as well as through research, advocacy, and education initiatives in more than 120 countries.

Could you share with us the inspiring journey of the Trevor Project since its inception, highlighting some of the pivotal moments and key evolutions that have shaped the organization into what it is today?

The Trevor Project's founding is a unique one. In 1994, the short film Trevor told a heartwarming story of a 13-year-old boy whose world turns upside down overnight when word spreads that he has a crush on a male classmate. When the film won an Academy Award the following year, it brought national attention to a painful truth: LGBTQ+ young people were in crisis, and there was nowhere for them to turn. Ahead of the film's HBO premiere in 1998, filmmakers Celeste Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone wanted to include a lifeline for viewers who might be going through something similar. They soon discovered that no such lifeline existed for LGBTQ+ youth in the United States. Recognizing this critical gap, they decided to create one themselves. From a dining room table, they launched Trevor Lifeline. On the night Trevor aired, the lifeline received over 1,500 calls. That moment marked not just a beginning, but a promise to LGBTQ+ youth that they were not alone.

Over the past 27 years, The Trevor Project has grown into the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. We provide 24/7 crisis services via phone, text, and chat, connecting highly trained counselors with LGBTQ+ young people whenever they need support in their darkest moments. But crisis support is just one part of what we do. We focus on suicide prevention through groundbreaking research, policy advocacy, education programs, and peer support spaces to ensure that a young person doesn't enter a crisis in the first place.

In 2022, we expanded internationally for the first time, launching digital crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth in Mexico. Within 24 hours, contacts from young people began pouring in -- proving just how critical these resources are beyond the U.S. From a single phone line to a 500-person organization, The Trevor Project has never lost sight of its mission: to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people and to help them see a future worth fighting for. Today, as the first Black, nonbinary CEO of The Trevor Project, I am deeply honored to lead this organization into its next chapter.

Given today's complex landscape in the United States--with reduced public funding, significant mental health concerns among LGBTQ+ youth, and increasing political and societal pressures--what are the primary challenges the Trevor Project faces, and how is your organization innovatively adapting to continue providing essential support to young people?

Given today's complex landscape in the United States--with reduced public funding, significant mental health concerns among LGBTQ+ youth, and increasing political and societal pressures--what are the primary challenges the Trevor Project faces, and how is your organization innovatively adapting to continue providing essential support to young people?

The Trevor Project is operating in one of the most difficult landscapes we've seen in decades. Mental health challenges are rising, and LGBTQ+ youth -- especially trans and nonbinary young people -- are facing disproportionate risks. We see this impact firsthand. On November 6th, 2024, the day after the election, our classic crisis services experienced a staggering 700% increase in contact volume, compared to a normal day of service. This marked The Trevor Project's highest daily surge in crisis contact volume on record, since we began offering 24/7 services in 2019. Around 40% of those reaching out were transgender or nonbinary, and one-third were BIPOC LGBTQ+ youth. These figures reflect what we already know: when harmful rhetoric escalates, LGBTQ+ youth -- especially those at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities -- feel the impact immediately and profoundly.

And now, with public government funding under threat, the stakes are even higher. Just last month, a leaked draft of the administration's federal budget revealed plans to eliminate all funding for 988's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services. This federal program was implemented in 2022, with strong bipartisan support, and has provided almost 1.3 million LGBTQ+ young people with free, high-quality care in mere minutes. Stripping away this support won't just reduce access -- it will put lives at risk. Politics aside, there's one thing we should all agree on: every young person in crisis deserves someone to talk to who understands them and affirms who they are.

At The Trevor Project, we have a unique role to play to reduce division and find common ground around the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. We are working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisles to communicate a critical message: suicide prevention is about people not politics. But, we're meeting this moment with urgency. We're fighting back -- advocating at the local, state, and federal levels to protect LGBTQ+ rights. In 2024, we helped defeat more than 75% of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the country. We're conducting groundbreaking research that helps us inform policy and understand the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ youth face. We also offer education programs that equip adults with the tools they need to support LGBTQ+ youth in crisis. We've prepared for this moment -- while the political climate is tough, we're not going anywhere. Our mission remains clear: to show up for young people and fight for their right to be safe, supported, and seen.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for the Trevor Project in terms of societal impact, and how do you foresee leveraging emerging technologies (such as artificial intelligence and digital platforms), expanding internationally, and evolving your organizational strategy to maximize your future effectiveness?

Looking ahead, what is your vision for the Trevor Project in terms of societal impact, and how do you foresee leveraging emerging technologies (such as artificial intelligence and digital platforms), expanding internationally, and evolving your organizational strategy to maximize your future effectiveness?

At The Trevor Project, our vision is a world where LGBTQ+ young people can live openly, safely, and without having to constantly defend who they are. That means continuing to show up for them wherever they are, 24/7/365 -- whether over the phone, through text, or online chat. Our international reach and impact will continue to go beyond Mexico.

TrevorSpace, our global, safe-space social networking platform for LGBTQ+ young people has supported youth in over 160 countries. TrevorSpace allows LGBTQ+ youth around the world to connect with peers, build community, and talk openly about what they're going through in a space that's affirming and closely moderated. For many young people, especially those in isolated or unsupportive environments, this kind of connection can be a lifeline -- letting them know that they are never alone. Technology will play a major role in the future. We're proud of the ways we're using technology to expand our impact,and  we never want to lose sight of the heart of our work: being there for young people when they need someone the most.

As we explore new technologies, the goal is not to replace highly trained humans to support LGBTQ+ youth in crisis. Instead, these innovations will help us maintain the high quality of our services, train our crisis counselors asynchronously, and continue to improve our service delivery to make it easier for LGBTQ+ young people to connect with life-saving support. Every day, we hear from LGBTQ+ youth who are scared, overwhelmed, and trying to navigate a world that often makes them feel like they don't belong. They're not asking for much -- just someone who will listen, and someone who understands.

Our vision goes beyond crisis response -- we're working to shift the entire system upstream. That means addressing the root causes of mental health challenges before they escalate by creating environments where LGBTQ+ young people feel affirmed, safe, and empowered at every stage of life.

Take action !

sign this petition to save funding for 988, or donate to our Emergency Lifeline campaign