rue21 proudly supports our LGBTQ employees and customers. As we celebrate Pride Month with our 2022 Pride Collection, we’re committing $50,000 to The Trevor Project, an organization that provides free and confidential, 24/7 crisis counseling to LGBTQ young people. We’re honored to partner with this organization and bring awareness to issues facing LGBTQ youth today. We’d love to share with you all additional information about how The Trevor Project serves this community and encourage you to donate if you are able to support the cause as well.
Suicide Prevention
The Trevor Project’s mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ youth. According to their research, more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth in the U.S. seriously consider suicide every year and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Trevor Project has experienced significant increases in the volume of LGBTQ youth reaching out for crisis counseling. To provide immediate support to LGBTQ young people in crisis, they provide free and confidential suicide prevention and crisis intervention programs on platforms where young people spend their time: their 24/7 phone lifeline, chat, and text.
Community Building
The Trevor Project also runs TrevorSpace, the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth. LGBTQ youth who had access to spaces that affirmed their sexual orientation and gender identity reported lower rates of attempting suicide. The Trevor Project also encourages guardians, teachers and community members to create safe and accepting environments for LGBTQ young people. LGBTQ youth who report high levels of social support from family and friends are significantly less likely to attempt suicide compared to those with lower levels of social support. Building safe communities relies on all community members doing their part.
Educational Resources
Whether you are learning about your own sexual orientation or gender identity or are an ally looking to become better educated on issues facing the LGBTQ community, The Trevor Project has resources to turn to. These resources cover topics such as mental health, gender identity, sexual orientation, suicide prevention, and community support. Education is an ongoing process that is never finished – there is always more to learn and more people to hear stories from.
Resources are linked below, always remember – you are lovable.
Get Support: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
Education: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/
Donate: Donate
Pride Celebrations: https://www.gaycities.com/events/pride
