The Trevor Project today announced that Twitter and LGBTQ youth advocate Cole Ray Davis will be honored at TrevorLIVE New York on June 13, 2016 with previously announced longtime supporters and Trevor Heroes, Jordan Roth and Richie Jackson. This semi-annual fundraising ceremony recognizes The Trevor Project's impact in suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ young people and raises awareness about their lifesaving resources through an irreverent evening of comedy and music, with special performances by Grammy and Tony Award winner Billy Porter and Grammy Award nominated and multi-platinum R&B recording artist Deborah Cox.
Twitter will be honored with The Trevor Project's 20/20 Visionary Award, which is presented to a corporation that publicly supports the LGBTQ community and works to advance an empowering future-focused message for LGBTQ young people and their allies nationwide.
"A leader in the ever-changing digital media landscape, Twitter has been a powerful social media tool for The Trevor Project to connect with LGBTQ youth," said
Abbe Land, Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. "Twitter's democratic platform has made it possible for people to speak openly about LGBTQ issues and express messages of unity and love. Most importantly, the company truly supports LGBTQ employees, from covering the cost of gender reassignment surgery, to taking a public stance on anti-LGBTQ legislature at both the state and federal levels. As a key ally in the fight for equality, they've helped turn a minority into the majority."
Twitter has been active in advocating for equality around the world. The company has gone on public record to oppose legislation limiting LGBTQ rights or to support their advancement, whether in different states or federally, US Supreme Court proceedings, and in Ireland's historic marriage equality vote. Twitter has also taken bold stances for LGBTQ equality in the workplace, such as banning blood drives at its offices until the FDA lifts discriminatory restrictions, and just launched a #LoveIsLove emoji, which became the #1 worldwide trend just two hours after launching, to ensure LGBTQ youth hear positive messages during pride month.
"We are honored to be recognized with The Trevor Project's 20/20 Visionary Award," said Jack Dorsey, CEO and co-founder of Twitter. "Inclusion lives on our platform. Twitter empowers anyone to have a voice - of any race, gender, orientation, and identity - and diverse voices and communities engage on Twitter every day. This is what we stand for and we will continue to champion equality on our platform and around the world."
Cole
Ray Davis will be recognized as a Trevor Youth Innovator, which honors a young LGBTQ or straight ally under the age of 25 who strives to support, inspire, and empower LGBTQ youth to reach for their dreams. Featured in the new documentary film Deep Run, executive produced by
Susan Sarandon, North Carolina trans youth Davis has bravely stepped into the spotlight during one of the most trying times for the trans community. With unsettling headlines about North Carolina's move to sue the US Justice Department regarding the HB2 bill, Davis' story shows that even in the most discouraging situations, one has the right to be true to oneself without the fear of discrimination or being treated unfairly.
"It's a humbling experience being honored by The Trevor Project. I spent five years of my life being followed by a camera crew in hopes that the rest of the nation can get a glimpse of the challenges that LGBTQ youth face, specifically those in rural areas. I wish every LGBTQ person could feel comfortable enough to be themselves, but that's just not the case because of laws and people's fears, which all have the potential to spur hatemongering in communities that we call home. This award gives hope to people like me from small towns, because it is a sign of the acceptance that Trevor and their supporters give people daily. I thank Trevor for shining a light on my experience and I hope that this raises awareness about the content we created for 'Deep Run' that can be used in the fight for equal rights for all," Cole
Ray Davis said.
Additional presenters and guests include
Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon, Girls),
Dan Bucatinsky (Scandal),
Noah Galvin (The Real O'Neals),
Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown),
Judith Light (Transparent),
Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots),
Conrad Ricamora (How to Get Away with Murder),
Quentin Earl Darrington (CATS),
Alyssa Milano (Mistresses) and more.
For more information on TrevorLIVE New York, please visit:
