The Trevor Project
An American nonprofit providing crisis intervention, suicide-prevention, peer-support, education, and research services for LGBTQ young people.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Trevor Project is a United States nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning young people. Its primary audience is people under 25, although its educational and research work also serves parents, educators, youth-service professionals, policymakers, and the wider public. The organization operates confidential crisis-support services through telephone, text, and online chat channels, and maintains resources intended to help young people find safer and more accepting environments at home, in schools, and in colleges. The organization emerged from the 1994 short film Trevor, written by Celeste Lecesne and directed by Peggy Rajski, with Randy Stone serving as a producer. The film portrayed a 13-year-old gay boy experiencing rejection and attempting suicide. When HBO prepared to broadcast the film in 1998, its creators recognized that some viewers might need immediate support and discovered that no national crisis line specifically serving LGBTQ youth existed. They established The Trevor Project in West Hollywood, California, using seed funding from the Colin Higgins Foundation and an HBO licensing payment. The resulting Trevor Lifeline became a nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide-prevention service for LGBTQ youth. Over time, The Trevor Project expanded beyond a telephone helpline. Its service portfolio came to include TrevorChat, TrevorText, educational materials, school-based Lifeguard Workshops, the moderated TrevorSpace online community, and guidance for adults supporting LGBTQ youth. The organization also conducts research on LGBTQ youth mental health and suicide risk, emphasizing differences affecting transgender and nonbinary youth and LGBTQ youth of color. Its research is used to inform public discussion, institutional practice, and advocacy. The organization has developed partnerships with technology companies, public agencies, schools, celebrities, and philanthropic institutions. Google grants and pro bono technical assistance supported improvements to its crisis platforms, online-community moderation, counselor training, and risk-assessment tools. In 2019, text and chat services moved to continuous availability. In 2022, The Trevor Project introduced free digital services in Mexico, extending its online support model beyond the United States. The Trevor Project also became involved in the federal 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline through a specialized option for LGBTQ youth. The Press 3 service connected callers with counselors trained in LGBTQ-specific crisis support and later operated through a network of specialized centers. In 2025, the federal government announced that funding for the dedicated option would be discontinued, prompting debate about access to specialized crisis care and the treatment of LGBTQ youth within the national 988 system. The organization experienced internal governance and labor disputes during the early 2020s. Amit Paley, who served as chief executive from 2016 to 2022, was removed by the board in November 2022, with co-founder Peggy Rajski appointed interim chief executive. Employees subsequently organized Friends of Trevor United, affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. During bargaining in 2023, the organization terminated employees in the bargaining unit; the union alleged that the dismissals disproportionately affected union leaders and filed an unfair-labor-practice complaint. Despite these controversies, The Trevor Project remains an active nonprofit whose central mission is to provide confidential support and promote acceptance and safety for LGBTQ young people.
History
The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 in West Hollywood, California, by Celeste Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone, the creators of the short film Trevor. The 1994 film follows a 13-year-old gay boy who faces rejection and attempts suicide. Before HBO broadcast the film in 1998, its creators sought a crisis resource that could be shown to young viewers who might identify with the story. They found that a national LGBTQ youth helpline did not exist, so they created one. Initial support came from the Colin Higgins Foundation and HBO's licensing payment. The resulting Trevor Lifeline became a nationwide, 24-hour crisis and suicide-prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. The organization gradually supplemented telephone counseling with web-based resources and educational work. In 2004 it released an education kit for teachers and youth-service providers, containing the film, instructional material, hotline information, and posters. In 2005 it introduced Dear Trevor, an anonymous online question-and-answer forum for non-urgent questions about sexual orientation and identity. During the mid-2000s, The Trevor Project continued public education and media outreach, including public-service announcements and a documentary featuring hotline staff discussing the kinds of calls they received. By 2007, the helpline had handled more than 100,000 calls and thousands of education kits had been distributed. The organization also ran the Don't Erase Your Queer Future digital campaign during National Suicide Prevention Week, using disappearing text and quotations to illustrate the cultural and social contributions that could be lost when LGBTQ young people die by suicide. The project broadened its community and training programs in the following years. TrevorSpace, a moderated social-networking community for LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 24, launched in 2008. In 2009, trained facilitators delivered Lifeguard Workshops in California communities, and a contract with the Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force represented an early use of public funding. Digital marketing and website improvements helped connect the organization's crisis services and online community. Technology partnerships became increasingly important. Google provided philanthropic support in 2019 and again in 2020, when its fellows helped improve crisis lines, automate aspects of TrevorSpace moderation, refine a counselor-training simulator, and promote the online community. Machine-learning tools were also explored for assessing risk in TrevorChat and TrevorText. In 2019, text and chat counseling expanded from limited hours to 24-hour operation. From 2016 through 2022, Amit Paley led the organization as chief executive. The period was marked by expansion of digital services, research, and fundraising. In October 2022, The Trevor Project launched free digital services in Mexico. In November of that year, the board removed Paley and appointed co-founder Peggy Rajski as interim CEO amid reported employee concerns about growth and management. In 2023, staff formed Friends of Trevor United, affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. Labor negotiations were followed by terminations affecting approximately 12% of the bargaining unit. The union alleged that the dismissals disproportionately affected union leaders and filed an unfair-labor-practice complaint. The Trevor Project's research program studies suicide risk, mental health, discrimination, and support needs among LGBTQ youth. Its national survey work has reported elevated rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts, with particularly serious disparities among transgender and nonbinary youth and LGBTQ youth of color. The organization also operates school workshops teaching participants to recognize depression and suicide risk, understand the effects of language and behavior, and support peers. The organization later participated in the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline through a specialized Press 3 pathway for LGBTQ youth. The program connected callers to counselors with relevant training and expanded into a subnetwork of specialized centers. In 2025, the federal government announced plans to withdraw dedicated funding for the pathway, creating uncertainty about the future of specialized LGBTQ youth crisis support within 988.
- 2023
Employee union is formed
[1]Staff organized Friends of Trevor United, affiliated with the Communications Workers of America.
- 2022
Mexico digital services launch
[1]Free digital support services were introduced for LGBTQ young people in Mexico.
- 2019
TrevorText and TrevorChat become available around the clock
[1]Digital crisis counseling expanded from limited hours to continuous text and chat availability.
- 2009
Publicly funded local prevention work begins
[1]The Trevor Project entered an agreement with the Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force and expanded school workshop delivery.
- 2008
TrevorSpace launches
[1]The organization introduced a monitored social-networking community for LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 24.
- 2005
Dear Trevor online forum launches
[1]An anonymous forum enabled users to ask and answer non-urgent questions about sexual orientation and identity.
- 2004
Education kit released
[1]The organization issued teaching materials for educators and youth-service providers built around the film and crisis-line information.
- 1998
The organization and Trevor Lifeline are established
[1]The film's creators founded The Trevor Project and launched a national, around-the-clock crisis line for LGBTQ youth.
- 1994
Short film Trevor is released
[1]The film that inspired The Trevor Project depicts a gay teenager in crisis and was later recognized with an Academy Award.
Products and positioning
A specialized, youth-centered LGBTQ crisis-support and suicide-prevention nonprofit combining direct counseling, digital community services, education, research, and advocacy.
Crisis hotline · 1998
Trevor Lifeline
The Trevor Project's original telephone crisis-intervention service provides confidential support to LGBTQ young people experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or related crises. It was established in 1998 as a nationwide, around-the-clock helpline and remains one of the organization's core direct-support channels.
Online crisis counseling
TrevorChat
TrevorChat provides confidential crisis support through online messaging with trained counselors. It extends the organization's telephone model to young people who prefer web-based communication or who may not be able to use a voice line.
Text crisis counseling
TrevorText
TrevorText is a text-message counseling service for LGBTQ youth seeking immediate emotional support or crisis intervention. The service expanded to continuous operation in 2019, making text-based help available at all hours.
Online community · 2008
TrevorSpace
TrevorSpace is a moderated social-networking community for LGBTQ youth, generally serving users aged 13 to 24. It offers a peer-oriented environment intended to reduce isolation while using moderation and safety practices appropriate to a youth audience.
Education and training
Lifeguard Workshops
Lifeguard Workshops use an age-appropriate curriculum to discuss sexuality, gender identity, harmful language, depression, suicide risk, and peer support. The program is delivered in schools and youth settings to help participants recognize warning signs and create safer environments for LGBTQ young people.
Research program
National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health
The Trevor Project's survey and research program examines mental health, suicidality, discrimination, access to care, and protective factors among LGBTQ youth. Its findings are commonly presented across demographic groups to highlight disparities affecting transgender, nonbinary, and LGBTQ youth of color.
Controversies
2023
Labor dispute over bargaining-unit terminations
After staff formed a union, management terminated approximately 12% of bargaining-unit employees during collective bargaining. Friends of Trevor United alleged that the dismissals were retaliatory and disproportionately affected union leaders, and filed an unfair-labor-practice complaint.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007Don't Erase Your Queer Future
United States
A digital campaign for National Suicide Prevention Week used progressively disappearing text and quotations to illustrate the contributions that might be lost when LGBTQ people die by suicide.
Outcome. The campaign increased public awareness of LGBTQ youth suicide prevention and encouraged audiences to support acceptance and crisis resources.
- 2006Public-service and media education campaign
United States
The organization used celebrity-supported public-service announcements and a documentary featuring hotline staff to promote acceptance and awareness of its crisis services.
Outcome. The campaign extended the organization's reach beyond direct callers and connected media audiences with LGBTQ youth support resources.
Brand decisions
2022
Launch free digital services in MexicoProduct launchBackground
The organization sought to extend its digital support model to LGBTQ young people outside the United States.
Action taken
The Trevor Project launched free digital services in Mexico.
Aftermath
The launch expanded the organization's operating reach into a second national market.
2022
Board removes chief executiveOtherBackground
The board acted amid reported employee concerns about organizational growth and management.
Action taken
Amit Paley was removed as chief executive, and co-founder Peggy Rajski became interim CEO.
Aftermath
The leadership change was followed by heightened public attention to internal governance and employee relations.
2022
Participate in specialized 988 LGBTQ youth supportOtherBackground
The federal 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline created a specialized pathway for LGBTQ youth callers seeking counselors with relevant expertise.
Action taken
The Trevor Project participated in the Press 3 service and helped support a specialized LGBTQ youth subnetwork of crisis centers.
Aftermath
The program increased visibility of specialized LGBTQ crisis counseling, but its dedicated federal funding was later threatened in 2025.
2020
Use technology partnerships to improve crisis servicesStrategyBackground
The organization needed to improve digital counseling infrastructure, online-community moderation, and counselor preparation as demand for remote services grew.
Action taken
Google fellows supported platform upgrades, moderation automation, training simulation, and machine-learning experimentation for risk assessment.
Aftermath
The partnership expanded the technical capabilities supporting TrevorChat, TrevorText, and TrevorSpace.
2019
Expand digital crisis support to 24-hour availabilityStrategyBackground
The organization sought to make crisis support more accessible to young people who preferred text and online chat to telephone counseling.
Action taken
TrevorText and TrevorChat moved from limited operating hours to continuous availability.
Aftermath
The change strengthened the organization's digital-first support model and increased access outside traditional service hours.
Recent events
Maison Kitsuné partners with The Trevor Project on Pride collection[3]
Reported:
Maison Kitsuné collaborated with The Trevor Project on its Pride collection and said 15% of the collection's net sales through July 31, 2021 would be donated to the organization.
Jimmy Choo announces Billy Porter capsule collection[4]
Reported:
Jimmy Choo announced a capsule collection created with Billy Porter, comprising four shoe styles and an oversized clutch. The collection was available for pre-order on JimmyChoo.com.
BMW USA launches Driven By Pride campaign[5]
Reported:
BMW USA launched the Driven By Pride campaign for Pride Month and the LGBTQIA+ community, including participation in a special NYC Pride broadcast, support for The Trevor Project’s Pride Everywhere campaign, and communications across BMW digital channels.
Sources5 sources
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