Guest Post: Be Proud and Speak Out With The Trevor Project’s Youth Video Initiative!

By Charles Robbins, executive director and CEO, The Trevor Project

This year on National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11), The Trevor Project launched Rated Q, a video initiative for LGBTQ youth. Rated Q encourages young people to “be proud and speak out” by sharing their stories with others through short, creative videos. Youth can create videos about nearly any topic while conveying experiences they have encountered living openly and proudly as LGBTQ.

This powerful, storytelling initiative is designed to encourage youth who want to share their experiences to do so while being creative and having fun. As this generation of young people prepares to become the leaders of tomorrow, we are proud to encourage them to share the kinds of compelling stories we are so familiar with at The Trevor Project. From counselors speaking to young people on The Trevor Helpline, to workshop facilitators interacting with high school students, to TrevorSpace members sharing stories with us and their peers online – we know first-hand how courageous, outspoken and activist-minded youth are today. We hope that Rated Q will empower them to listen to and support one another in an interactive and dynamic forum.

Anyone between the ages of 13 and 24 can submit a video until Nov. 15, 2009. Entries should be uploaded to The Trevor Project’s video portal hosted by Meme Labs at: http://memelabs.com/thetrevorproject. All eligible submissions will be part of an online showcase, and select entries will receive prominent placement on The Trevor Project’s Web site, official YouTube channel and other social networking sites. The public will be able to vote for their favorite videos and determine the top five submissions before a judging panel selected by The Trevor Project announces one grand prize winner and four runner-ups. The grand prize winner’s video will be unveiled to a live audience in Los Angeles on Dec. 6, 2009 during Cracked Xmas 12, The Trevor Project’s largest, annual fundraiser.

So, if you’re a LGBTQ young person or know someone who is – be proud and speak out! The Trevor Project wants to hear your story.

Charles Robbins is the executive director and CEO of The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.