The Trevor Project to Carry on Milk Legacy in San Francisco
Statements from Community Leaders Who Helped Make It Happen
West Hollywood, CA (January 18, 2011) – Today, The Trevor Project, in collaboration with the Human Rights Campaign announced a long-term partnership to operate a crisis and suicide prevention Trevor Lifeline call center along with an HRC Action Center and Store from the site of Harvey Milk’s Castro Camera. This exciting new partnership to harness Harvey Milk’s legacy at this historic location is thanks in part to the grassroots support of local San Francisco leaders, including Harvey Milk’s close friend and campaign manager, Anne Kronenberg. Cleve Jones, Frank M. Robinson, the Academy Award®-winning writer of “Milk” and Trevor Board Member, Dustin Lance Black, and David McFarland, Chair of the Board of The Trevor Project have each made statements in support of this new and exciting endeavor.
CLEVE JONES
“It is wonderful that Harvey's message of hope will again emanate from the site of Castro Camera. He spoke often of our responsibility to our young people and experienced first-hand the pain of losing loved ones to suicide. The next time a frightened gay kid from Altoona - or anywhere - calls out for help, that call will be answered by a Trevor Project volunteer in Harvey's old store. I think he'd approve."
FRANK M. ROBINSON
“I can't think of a better - and more needed - use for the old shop. In growing up, I had two gay friends who committed suicide and I myself had times when I contemplated it. For all those who work with the Trevor Project, my utmost admiration and thanks. I only wish you had existed when I was young, confused, gay and desperately needed somebody to talk to. My heartfelt thanks and admiration for all concerned.”
DUSTIN LANCE BLACK
"Harvey Milk often ended his speeches with the story of what drove him: that phone call from Altoona, Pennsylvania from a young person in need of HOPE. To know those calls will once again be answered from inside Harvey’s old storefront is incredibly moving, but also vital. I hope that The Trevor Project’s sign in the window and call center in back makes it clear to all who make the pilgrimage to Milk’s old home that his lifesaving work of giving hope to our hopeless is far from finished, and that all of our efforts must be redoubled."
DAVID MCFARLAND, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE TREVOR PROJECT
“This incredible collaboration with HRC that will offer so much hope to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth nationwide occurred through the grassroots support of many people in the Bay Area. We are thankful to the vocal leadership of people like Dustin Lance Black and Harvey Milk’s close friends Cleve Jones, Anne Kronenberg, and author of the Hope speech, Frank M. Robinson. Together, we will reinvigorate Castro Camera as a site for political action and a resource and lifeline for young LGBTQ people.
“It is also not lost on The Trevor Project, as an organization rooted in film, that our newest Lifeline call center is also closely linked to LGBTQ film and filmmaking. In all respects, we are excited to have found a home at Castro Camera.”
ABOUT THE TREVOR PROJECT:
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential lifeline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and advocacy. For more information, visit www.TheTrevorProject.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2011
Paul Guequierre | paul.guequierre@hrc.org | 202-423-2860
Laura McGinnis | laura.mcginnis@thetrevorproject.org | 310-271-8845
Human Rights Campaign Partners with The Trevor Project around San Francisco Action Center & Store
Action Center Will Include The Trevor Project Suicide Prevention Call Center
WASHINGTON- The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today announced long term partnerships with The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention among LGBT youth. The well-regarded organization joins the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and the GLBT Historical Society as organizations with which HRC will partner when the organization moves into the old camera store and campaign headquarters of civil rights advocate Harvey Milk.
In addition to being an HRC Action Center and Store, the location will include work space for The Trevor Project’s crisis and suicide prevention call center for the term of HRC’s lease. The Trevor Project will not offer direct services out of this space. The Action Center and Store will prominently feature Trevor Project signage in the store’s windows and provide a kiosk for Trevor Project resources including a computer monitor to access the organization’s website. The partnership will also enhance The Trevor Project’s ability to train local school workshop volunteers in the Bay Area therefore extending Trevor’s programmatic reach. In addition, HRC will make a $10,000 annual donation for each year of the relationship to The Trevor Project.
HRC previously announced that proceeds from selected merchandise will help to support the work of the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and the GLBT Historical Society.
“We are honored to partner with The Trevor Project in offering this important resource for LGBT youth across the nation from such a historic location,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “We are so proud of the work of The Trevor Project and I am thrilled to strengthen our relationship with this incredible organization.”
“We are grateful to HRC for their generosity and are excited about this partnership,” said The Trevor Project Executive Director Charles Robbins. “This location, which is being provided to us free of charge, will allow us to invest even more of our precious resources into creating supportive and positive environments for youth.”
Both HRC and The Trevor Project are grateful for the groundswell of support in San Francisco for this endeavor, furthering Harvey Milk’s legacy of giving hope to young LGBTQQ people across the country.
The HRC Action Center and store will move into the new location at 575 Castro St. with a soft opening on Wednesday, January 19th and hold its grand opening in May of 2011.
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
The Trevor Project is determined to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources including our nationwide, 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline, digital community and advocacy/educational programs that create a safe, supportive and positive environment for everyone.
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