Los Angeles, Dec. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Trevor Project hosted its 2018 TrevorLIVE Los Angeles gala at The Beverly Hilton where it honored Emmy®, Golden Globe® and Peabody® Award-winning screenwriter, producer and director Ryan Murphy and the cast of “POSE;” Amandla Stenberg; and AT&T. Eugene Lee Yang hosted the event which helped raise over $1.5 million and included performances by Lauren Jauregui, Deborah Cox, and a surprise performance by POSE castmates Billy Porter, Mj Rodriguez, and Our Lady J. Additional attendees included Brad Goreski, Cameron Esposito, Cary Deuber, Charlayne Woodard, Cobie Smulders, Dan Levy, Dominique Jackson, Dyllon Burnside, Emma Roberts, Hailie Sahar, Gia Gunn, Indya Moore, James Van Der Beek, Jason Collins, Jussie Smollett, LeeAnne Locken, Mara Wilson, Madame LaQueer, Miles McKenna, Morgan McMichaels, Nico Santos, Ongina, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Steven Canals, Kylie Sonique Love, and Ty Dolla $ign.
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. TrevorLIVE LA is the organization’s annual star-studded signature fundraiser.
Highlights from the event included:
- Lauren Jauregui kicked off the show with a stripped-down performance of her debut single, “Expectations.”
- The host of the evening Eugene Lee Yang welcomed the crowd applauding The Trevor Project’s tireless work and service to the LGBTQ community. “It is an absolute privilege to support The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people,” he said. “Tonight, we are honoring some truly awe-inspiring trailblazers for the LGBTQ community.”
- The Trevor Project’s CEO & Executive Director Amit Paley took to the stage. “There are people in this room who’ve told me that they wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for this organization, and I know there are others who wish they had known about Trevor in THEIR darkest moments,” he said. “That is why we are here today. To make sure that every young person, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, or immigration status, knows that The Trevor Project is here for them whenever they need us.”
- Amandla Stenberg accepted the Youth Innovator Award and reflected on coming out in the public eye. “Often times who we are is postulated in the context of pain, shame, and tragedy, and although that may be a facet of our experiences I do not feel that it is by any means the totality of them or how I experience being gay,” they said. “I find that understanding so limiting and inaccurate when I know that if anything we are the opposite; we are joy and light. We are the sacred unraveling of damaging fabrications who reveal the power of truth through love. We are unapologetic expressions of divinity and exuberance.”
- Jussie Smollett presented the 20/20 Visionary Award to AT&T’s Mobility & Entertainment President David Christopher, who accepted the award on the organization’s behalf. “When we first started our work with The Trevor Project, we set out together to do something meaningful. So, we threw our support behind outreach efforts to expand a platform that helps The Trevor Project achieve 24/7 text and chat services to help even more youth in crisis.”
- Janet Mock presented the Hero Award to Ryan Murphy and the cast of “POSE.” Murphy accepted the award and stated, “When I was 19, in Indiana, I myself called a suicide hotline. Overwhelmed by the AIDs crisis, by the fact that I was the only ‘out’ person in my friend group, the only ‘out’ person I knew at the time, and alienated from my family, I felt profound despair. I made a call one late night in November. I made a connection, got some hope, and carried on. It’s powerful lifesaving work this organization does. In my roundabout way, I know this first hand.” He ended his speech announcing a $50,000 donation to The Trevor Project. The full transcript is available here.
- Deborah Cox closed out the show with a rousing rendition of her No. 1 hit “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” and a cover of Whitney Houston’s classic hit, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
The proud presenting sponsor of this year’s TrevorLIVE LA is AT&T. In addition, Toyota served as the official Red Carpet Reception sponsor, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants as the official hotel partner, and Three Olives® Vodka as the official spirits sponsor.
Use the following links to access photos and video from the event
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Credit: Getty on behalf of The Trevor Project
- Arrivals & Cocktails
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About The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. The Trevor Project offers a suite of crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat as well as a peer-to-peer social network support for LGBTQ young people under the age of 25, TrevorSpace. Trevor also offers an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, a legislative advocacy department fighting for pro-LGBTQ legislation and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric/policy positions, and conducts research to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide. If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, our TrevorLifeline crisis counselors are available 24/7/365 at 866.488.7386. www.TheTrevorProject.org
TrevorLIVE is the signature annual fundraising event of The Trevor Project. This annual event brings together top entertainers and corporate leaders to support the organization’s life-saving initiatives. Learn more about TrevorLIVE at http://la.trevorlive.org.
Press Contacts
Michael Samonte | Ulisses Rivera | Samuel Yu
Sunshine Sachs
323-822-9300
TrevorLIVE@SunshineSachs.com
Kevin Wong
The Trevor Project
646-576-7044
kevin.wong@thetrevorproject.org