ORGANIZATION: The Trevor Project
HOURS:24/7
MAIN CONTACT:None (Just call the line to talk
to someone awesome)
RATING: 5/5
The
Trevor project has various programs dedicated to the improvement of the lives
of LGBTQ youth and workshops to better educate and train those interested how
to address topics like sexual orientation and gender identity, skills to
prevent suicide in schools, as well as how language and behavior can impact
LGBTQ youth.
A major
part of the project is the Trevor Lifeline which is the “only nationwide,
around-the-clock suicide prevention and crisis intervention lifeline for LGBTQ
youth. The Trevor Lifeline is a free and confidential service that offers hope
and someone to talk to, 24/7. Volunteer Lifeline counselors staff three call
centers” (Trevor Project Website). The number is 1-866-488-7386 (U.S.
calls only).
It is similar to Teen Link in the way that they have helpline and
other online services, but the Trevor Project is directed specifically at
helping LGBTQ youth. They also offer an online chat service called Trevorchat
that runs form Mondays and Fridays between 1:00
PM Pacific (4:00 PM Eastern) and 9:00 PM Pacific (12:00 AM
Eastern). In addition to that, they have “Ask Trevor” an online
Q and A submission program, and Trevor Space which is a social networking site
for LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 and their friends and allies to foster a safe online
community at www.trevorspace.org.
The
Trevor Project has a whole host of volunteer opportunities but unfortunately
you must be at least 18 years old to apply. If you want more information about
volunteering check out this link: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/volunteers/opportunities.
They
have an awesome website with a ton of information http://www.thetrevorproject.org. They are a pretty large organization and since they are based in
Hollywood, California they also have a large community of celebrities that
support them and attend big Trevor Project events which is pretty cool. From
their website you can really tell that if you’re calling, you certainly aren’t
alone because they get tens of thousands of calls each year and have fielded 200,000+
lifeline calls since the beginning of the organization in 1998, and there are 23,000+
Trevor Space members.
There’s also a big group of people working to make
the Trevor Project as great as possible including 600+ Active volunteers
and 200+ Lifeline counselors. They even have a page on their website
devoted to letting people know about their staff: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/staff. This
includes profiles on the members with information like who their favorite LGBTQ
hero is, which truly makes their organization seem more real.
The
Trevor project seems like a really great organization that was definitely
founded with the needs of LGBTQ youth in mind. They seem very professional, but
at the same time, very real and down to earth.
