President Obama gave his first State of the Union Address last night, mentioning a plan to eliminate the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy of the United States military. Pres. Obama has received criticism from both sides of the debate.

Hundreds of students and Notre Dame community members marched this week in order to encourage their school administration to adopt “sexual orientation” to the school’s antidiscrimination policy and to recognize the school’s Gay Straight Alliance.

Mexico City’s new legalization of gay marriage and rights to adopt children may be overturned before it can take effect this March.

Testimony in the Proposition 8 trial ended Wednesday and Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker gave no time line for his ruling but said he will take time to review evidence before hearing closing arguments.

Voting begins today! Friday, Jan. 15-Friday, Jan. 22 in the Chase Community Giving challenge, a campaign through Facebook to award $1 million to the charity with the most votes.

But to win, we need your help!

Here’s what you can do!

• Vote: Vote at this link: http://bit.ly/votetrevor (you will need to accept the Chase Community Giving app first). And while you’re there, vote for our partners http://tinyurl.com/voteMSF and http://tinyurl.com/voteGLSEN.
• Change Your Facebook Profile Picture: Keep this up during the duration of the voting period (Jan. 15 – Jan. 22).

Set this as your Facebook Status: I voted for The Trevor Project to win $1 million in the Chase Community Giving contest at http://bit.ly/votetrevor. Repost this as your status during the open voting period: Jan. 15 through 22.

Tell Your Friends: Send private messages, post to your friend’s walls and share links! Let everyone know!

Update your Twitter by clicking on the graphic below:

Share our Customized link: Share the URL http://bit.ly/votetrevor on your blog, Web site, profile, other Facebook Pages/Groups and anywhere else you can think of!

Tweet @Celebs: Ask celebrities and anyone with lots of followers to mention @TrevorProject, @GLSEN and @MSFerasehatenow with #chasegiving in their tweets!

Share Your Thoughts: Let us know if you have any other ideas for how we can spread the word and encourage more votes!

Thanks for your support!

DUSTIN LANCE BLACK AND NEIL PATRICK HARRIS ELECTED TO THE TREVOR PROJECT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New members to serve leadership roles at LGBTQ youth-focused non-profit

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 13, 2010)

“Because Dustin Lance Black and Neil Patrick Harris have already demonstrated their tireless commitment to LGBTQ youth and The Trevor Project, we are thrilled to welcome them to our leadership team,” said Charles Robbins, executive director and CEO, The Trevor Project. “As prominent members of the entertainment community, they will certainly help raise awareness about The Trevor Project’s programs and their insight will be invaluable as we work to empower young people with the crisis intervention skills and suicide prevention resources they need.”

Dustin Lance Black, winner of the 2008 Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay for “Milk,” the biopic of the late gay rights activist Harvey Milk, was recognized by The Trevor Project last year with The Trevor Hero Award, which annually honors an individual who, through his or her example, support, volunteerism and/or occupation, is an inspiration to LGBTQ youth.

“All of the work we’re doing today to win LGBT equality is for these young people’s futures. So it is vital that we ensure they survive today’s challenges so they might know tomorrow’s freedoms,” said Dustin Lance Black. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to continue and expand my involvement with this lifesaving organization as a member of the Board of Directors.”

Neil Patrick Harris, the Emmy®-nominated star of the hit sitcom, “How I Met Your Mother,” was honored by The Trevor Project with The Trevor Life Award last month, recipients of which are annually selected based on the same criteria as that of The Trevor Hero Award. Harris gained notoriety as the beloved title character in “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” and has continued to demonstrate his creative versatility on screen in such films as “Clara’s Heart” and “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle,” and on stage in the Broadway productions of “Assassins,” “Proof” and “Cabaret.” Harris also served as the host of the 61

“I’ve been a longtime supporter of The Trevor Project, and I’m excited to become even more actively involved in raising awareness of its unique and vital mission,” said Neil Patrick Harris. “I hope that my involvement with The Trevor Project will help bring attention to the need for effective crisis and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth nationwide.”

The Trevor Project’s 30-person Board of Directors unites leaders from diverse personal and professional backgrounds to govern the organization and help further its mission and financial goals.

– The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, today announced that writer, producer and director Dustin Lance Black and actor, producer and director Neil Patrick Harris have been elected to its Board of Directors. st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards® and the 63rd Annual Tony Awards®.

About The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential helpline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and advocacy. The organization was founded in 1998 by three filmmakers whose film, “Trevor,” a comedy/drama about a gay teenager who attempts suicide, received the 1994 Academy Award® for Best Short Film (Live Action). For more information, visit TheTrevorProject.org.

 

Media Contact:

310-271-8845, ext. 226

Jacqueline.Wing@TheTrevorProject.org

Jacqueline Wing

# # #

 

 

Tom Whitman and Instinct Magazine present

OSCAR NIGHT 2010

Special Guest Emcee: TBA

4pm – 7pm: Hosted bar and hors d`oeuvres
5pm: Academy Awards Telecast
9pm: After Party

Featuring:
Private VIP cabanas, Oscar ballot contest with a grand prize, Celebrity friends, Large plasma screens to watch the show and Raffle prizes during the commercial breaks.

$40 Early Bird Ticket Special: Purchase your tickets before February 19th

To purchase your tickets or for more information visit: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/event_detail.aspx?event=53

Please note: All admission tickets must be purchased on The Trevor Project website. Facebook RSVPs does not gain event admission.

Three LGBT Youth-Focused Organizations Among 100 Charities Vying for $1 Million in Chase Community Giving

GLSEN, Matthew Shepard Foundation, The Trevor Project urge supporters to vote for all three charities beginning Jan. 15

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 5, 2010) – GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project – three organizations that work to improve the lives of LGBT youth – are among 100 finalists in Chase Community Giving, a campaign by Chase and Facebook to award $5 million to charities voted on by Facebook users.

In order to ensure that the organizations’ lifesaving work receives as much support as possible, the only three LGBT-focused organizations among the 100 finalists are pleased to announce that they will pool resources and offer each other support in hopes that all three will be among the final six vote-getters. The top vote-getter receives $1 million. Five runners-up receive $100,000 each.

Voting begins Jan. 15 and runs until Jan. 22. Each Facebook user is eligible to vote for up to five charities.

In a joint statement, GLSEN executive director Eliza Byard, Matthew Shepard Foundation executive director Jason Marsden and The Trevor Project executive director Charles Robbins said: “We are grateful for the overwhelming support Facebook users have already shown GLSEN, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project in the first round of the Chase Community Giving program. Our three organizations have worked together for years to create a safer and better world for LGBT youth. Because of this partnership and the scarcity of resources available to fund crucial support for LGBT youth, we have decided to work together to ensure that each organization has the best chance to further our important work through the grants awarded as part of the Chase program. We ask our supporters to use three of their five votes for GLSEN, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project.”

GLSEN, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project became eligible for the finals after finishing among the top 100 charities out of more than 500,000 in the first round of voting, held Nov. 15 through Dec. 12. Each of the 100 finalists received a $25,000 grant.

To learn more about Chase Community Giving, visit: apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/.

To learn more about GLSEN’s Big Idea and to vote for GLSEN, visit: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/1110553

To learn more about the Matthew Shepard Foundation’s Big Idea and to vote for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, visit: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/781026

To learn more about The Trevor Project’s Big Idea and to vote for The Trevor Project, visit: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/927529

About GLSEN

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN’s research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.

About The Matthew Shepard Foundation

The Matthew Shepard Foundation was founded by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their 21-year-old son, Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998. Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance” through its varied education, outreach and advocacy programs. For more information, please visit www.MatthewShepard.org

About The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential helpline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and advocacy. The organization was founded in 1998 by three filmmakers whose film, “Trevor,” a comedy/drama about a gay teenager who attempts suicide, received the 1994 Academy Award® for Best Short Film (Live Action). For more information, visit TheTrevorProject.org.

Khloe and Kim Kardashian and Kelly Osbourne with Trevor Project Executive Director, Charles Robbins

Thank you to everyone that came out last Sunday for the 12th Annual Cracked Xmas Gala at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles! Among our many celebrity supporters in attendance were cast members from Glee, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, Marc Shaiman, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Kelly Osbourne, Caroline Rhea, Carol Leifer, Rachael Harris, and MORE! We were also treated to performances by Vanessa Carlton and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. The Trevor Project honored AT&T and Neil Patrick Harris with achievement awards. This annual event raises critical funds for The Trevor Project and helps to bring awareness to our lifesaving resources for LGBTQ youth in crisis. Thank you to all who participated and to those who volunteered or attended the event!

The media coverage is pouring in – please stay tuned for additional coverage!

 

Please join the Trevor Project in observing December 1st as the Annual World AIDS Day. Sort out the facts from the myths and get resources from the following links:

The World AIDS Campaign

World AIDS Day

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Get informed! Get tested! Get involved!

The Trevor Project Thanks You

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday this Thursday, The Trevor Project would like to extend appreciation to all of our volunteers.

The Trevor Project has over 500 volunteers that help run and plan all of our many programs and events. Whether monitoring our TrevorSpace online community, answering calls on The Trevor Helpline, responding to “Dear Trevor” letters or ushering guests to their seats at our annual Cracked Xmas gala, volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Without them, it would be nearly impossible to support all the youth who contact us every day.

Once again, thank you to all of our volunteers. Have a safe and joyful holiday weekend.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for The Trevor Project, please visit the Volunteers Page of our Web site for more information or contact Erin English at Erin.English@TheTrevorProject.Org.

Best wishes,

The Trevor Project Staff

Arkansas 10 year old refuses to say the pledge of allegiance until LGBTQ people receive equality, despite taunts from his peers and teachers.

In August, Ceara Syurgis’s photo was not published in her senior yearbook because she opted to wear a tuxedo, the male’s required dress code, in her photo. Schools have been discussing topics of gender identity and expression in regard to school uniforms and dress codes. This New York Times article addresses some of these issues that have been becoming more frequent in the recent years, perhaps because students are becoming less shy to express themselves freely.

Cynthia Stewart will be allowed to bring her girlfriend to the Tharptown High School prom next March after school officials initially stated that lesbian couples were barred from the prom. After involving the American Civil Liberties Union, Tharptown High School officials in Alabama recanted their exclusion.

The Iowa Pride Network has released their findings from their 2009 survey relating to the experiences of LGBT youth in Iowa schools. The survey included questions regarding suicide for the first time and yielded shocking responses.

This reflection is courtesy of Grant Sloss
Participant in the 2009 LA AIDS Walk and
Trevor Project Volunteer Committee member

It’s easy to get complacent. As an active volunteer, I put in a few hours every month, breathe an exaggerated sigh and rush to pat myself on the back for making the world a better place. Sure, I haven’t solved everything (or really anything, other than the fairly simple problem of rounding up enough people to stick fake Trevor tattoos on Pride-goers), but I made a contribution. I was making a difference. I was leaving things a little better than I found them.

I was totally deluded. There is ALWAYS more to do.

Armed with this realization, and no small amount of goading from a pair of Trevor volunteers from Deloitte (thanks, Blake and Matt!), I rolled out of bed on a balmy Sunday morning and joined thousands of men, women, grandparents, parents, children and every other category of concerned citizen in AIDS Walk LA. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect (this was my maiden voyage), but among my concerns were the early hour (I hate the morning), the chaos (I hate crowds), and the potential for obnoxious protesters (I hate Hate). Mercifully, my Deloitte captors were on a gold team, meaning we were able to sidestep the chaos portion with our own sectioned territory. Said territory housed no small amount of coffee, tea, breakfast food and balloons, which didn’t sidestep the early hour entirely but at least made it (fine, made ME) a bit more tolerable. Team t-shirts were distributed, team photos were taken and Team Deloitte took to the streets, which were flooded with walkers and cheerleaders – young, old, some in uniform, some in drag, some in street clothes – but all luckily far cheerier than I. So cheery, in fact, that they almost completely drown out the protesters that appeared as we turned onto La Cienega.

Almost.

And ultimately, that was for the best. Because as lovely and vibrant as the cheerleaders were, they weren’t nearly as successful in firing up the AIDS walkers as the six or so misguided souls hoisting their hateful placards. (I may be speaking for myself, but…no. No, I’m not.) I’m still not entirely sure what they were doing there shouting Bible verses and Phelps-ian (Fred, not Michael) absurdities through their megaphones. I assume some sort of Bat signal goes out whenever Santa Monica Boulevard is blocked off and these people show up to exercise their First Amendment rights without knowing what they’re actually shouting about. Had they been paying attention, they’d have realized a fundraiser for AIDS research has nothing to do with religion, sexual orientation or anything else they were shaking their fists at. They’d have realized they were hurling hate speech at children young enough to fit into strollers. And their straight parents. And, in general, a group of people who, at least for the moment, had no political agenda.

But this scenario didn’t call for logical, civilized discourse. When confronted with irrational rage, the walkers fought fire with fire, shouting down our far-outnumbered opponents – and gaining a nice boost as we breezed into our second mile. Thanks, guys! See you at the next one!

We marched onward through more mile markers – and more free refreshments. Honestly, the amount of freebies at this event cannot be (a) overstated, or (b) accurately quantified. If the protesters got us through mile one, the free juices, cookies, fruit and protein bars (and the hundreds of volunteers, many local schoolchildren, who dutifully and awesomely stood for hours handing them out) got us through the rest of the sun-scorched walk.

And we needed it. As an occasional and very amateur triathlete, I expected a six-mile walk to be a breeze. I was sorely, sorely wrong. Six miles, whether you’re running, jogging or walking, is still six miles to your muscles, which were surprisingly wiped by the time we pulled into the giant balloon arch at the Pacific Design Center full of cheering fans, friends and volunteers, all waiting to pat us on the back for our not-terribly-hard work. We hadn’t changed the world or solved anything by traipsing around West Hollywood. But it was a contribution. We’d made a (little) difference. And hopefully, we’d be leaving things a little better than we found them.

-Grant Sloss