The Trevor Project

History

The project was founded in 1998

The Trevor Lifeline was established with seed funds provided by The Colin Higgins Foundation and HBO's license fee. As a result, it became the first nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. The project also provides online support to young people through the project's website, as well as guidance and resources to educators and parents.

In 2004, the organization released an educational kit for both educators and youth service providers which included a copy of the short film, a teaching guide (to be used with the film), cards with the hotline number, and posters.

2005 saw the release of "Dear Trevor", an online question and answer forum which allowed for people to anonymously ask and answer "non-urgent" questions regarding sexual orientation and identity.

While continuing various educational and media campaigns (including a PSA with Daniel Radcliffe) in 2006, a new short documentary was released consisting of interviews with hotline staff telling stories of calls from LGBTQ youth that they had received.

By 2007, the hotline had received over 100,000 calls since its inception, over 3000 education kits had been distributed, and hundreds of questions had been asked through the "Dear Trevor" online forum from around the world. During National Suicide Prevention Week a digital advertisement campaign named "Don't Erase Your Queer Future" was undertaken which included banner ads on social media websites and The Trevor Project website which encouraged reflection by displaying quotes and progressively erasing words to show how many artistic, cultural, and social contributions would be lost if prominent LGBTQ people would have committed suicide. Additionally, a new PSA with various celebrities was released.

In June 2009, seven Tulare County volunteers completed The Trevor Project Lifeguard Workshop Facilitator training. “Lifeguard workshops” have been done in schools in Tulare County municipalities, including Dinuba, Lindsay, Porterville and Visalia, as well as in Hanford in adjacent Kings County. In November 2009, the Trevor Project was contracted by the Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force, located in Tulare County, California. With this agreement, the project received public funds for the first time. Additionally, Sensis provided their digital marketing services including a website redesign and social network marketing on both Facebook and the Trevor Projects own social media website "Trevor Space" (which is still currently operating).

In 2021, the first openly gay active NFL player, Carl Nassib, used his coming out to also announce a $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project.

From 2016 to 2022, the CEO of The Trevor Project was Amit Paley. During this period the Trevor Project grew its revenue from $5M to over $60M which included a financial reserve of $50M. In October 2022, The Trevor Project launched free digital services in Mexico.

In November 2022, The Trevor Project's Board of Directors announced that Amit Paley had been removed effective immediately. The organization's Board of Directors announced that co-founder, Peggy Rajski, would be the interim CEO.{{cite web |title= The Trevor Project Ousts CEO Amit Paley Amid Concerns From Staff

Government funding

On June 18, 2025 it was confirmed that the Trump administration is cutting the program known as the “Press 3” option for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth. The administration says the option encourages “radical gender ideology” and plans to "no longer silo" the services and "focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option."

In 2024, the dedicated 988 support program for LGBTQ+ youth received $33 million in funding, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). By June 2025, expenditures for the program had surpassed that amount.

Trump administration’s proposed budget for 2026 maintains the overall 988 allocation at the same as the previous year at $520 million while removing funding for the LGBTQ+ services.

Research

The Trevor Project also undertakes mental health research focusing on LGBTQ youth. According to the project's strategic plan, "The Trevor Project will expand the scale of its flagship national survey while continuing to grow visibility and general public consumption of its research; and to incorporate new studies, scientific advances, and research protocols to build on its thought leadership and the impact of its programs." As of 2022, research found that 14% of LGBTQ youth reported a past-year suicide attempt, with LGBTQ youth of color and transgender and nonbinary youth reporting higher rates, illustrating the importance of examining findings intersectionally.

Projects

School workshops

The project's Lifeguard Workshop Program uses a structured, age-appropriate curriculum to address topics around sexuality, gender identity, the impacts of language and behavior, and what it means for young people to feel different. The program also teaches young people to recognize depression and suicide amongst their peers, the impacts of language and behavior on LGBTQ youth, and suicide prevention skills in schools.

2023 labor dispute

In April 2023, Trevor Project staffers formed Friends of Trevor United, a union affiliated with CWA. In July, during collective bargaining, management terminated 12% of bargaining unit employees, about one-third of whom were union leaders. Friends of Trevor responded by filing an Unfair Labor Practice complaint, alleging targeted retaliation.

References

References

1. "[https://www.thetrevorproject.org/about/founders-board-staff/ Founders, Board, Staff] {{Webarchive. link. (March 2, 2019 ". ''The Trevor Project''. Retrieved March 1, 2019.)
2. {{cite form 990. link
3. "[http://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/ The Trevor Project, Inc.] {{Webarchive. link. (September 16, 2019 " ''Business Entity Detail''. California Secretary of State. Retrieved on September 10, 2019.)
4. {{cite form 990. link
5. "The Trevor Project {{!}} For Young LGBTQ Lives".
6. (2013). "Historical dictionaries of religions, philosophies, and movements: Historical dictionary of the lesbian and gay liberation movements". Rowman & Littlefield.
7. "The Trevor Project - NYC Service".
8. Staff. (October 13, 1998). "Trevor Lends a 24-Hour Ear to Youth".
9. (2007). "The Organization".
10. The Trevor Project. (2006). "Daniel Radcliffe PSA for The Trevor Project".
11. The Trevor Project. (2006). "Stories from the Frontlines".
12. Rapp, Linda. (2007). "The Trevor Project".
13. The Trevor Project. (September 9, 2007). "Don't Erase Your Queer Future".
14. The Trevor Project. (2007). "The Trevor Project 2007 PSA".
15. "Homepage".
16. "TrevorSpace - Community for LGBTQ young people".
17. Maul, Kimberly. (February 18, 2009). "Trevor Project Gets Pro-Bono Digital Support".
18. Gutierrez, Paul. (June 21, 2021). "Carl Nassib of Las Vegas Raiders announces he is gay, pledges $100,000 to Trevor Project".
19. Burkholder, Katie. (May 2019). "The Trevor Project Launches 24/7 Text and Chat Support". Georgia Voice.
20. Levesque, Brody. (October 13, 2022). "Trevor Project launches crisis services for LGBTQ youth in Mexico". Washington Blade.
21. Singh, Kanishka. (2025-06-18). "US to end LGBT suicide prevention service, says general hotline sufficient". Reuters.
22. (2025-06-19). "Trump administration will shut LGBTQ youth-focused suicide prevention line". The Washington Post.
23. (2025-06-17 ). "SAMHSA Statement on 988 Press 3 Option".
24. Roush, Ty. "Trump Cuts LGBTQ+ Support Service From Suicide Hotline".
25. "The Trevor Project: Strategic Plan".
26. Price, Myeshia. (2022). "7.3 Intersectional Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ Youth at the Trevor Project". Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
27. (Aug 22, 2022). "Trevor Project explores MH of multiracial LGBTQ youth". Mental Health Weekly.
28. Hurley, Morgan M.. (February 1, 2010). "Sponsors Thrilled To Support First Conference To Educate Counselors of LGBTQI Students".
29. Owen, Greg. (2023-08-10). "Trevor Project in crisis: Management & financial woes threaten suicide prevention group's existence".
30. (2023-07-31). "The Trevor Project Workers Speak Out Against Anti-Union Attacks and Blatant Mistreatment, Fight to Secure Nonprofit's Core Mission to Support LGBTQ+ Youth".