I couldn't comment on the site, so I thought I would make a blog post about this video.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning youth. In the midst of National LGBTQ Pride Month, The Trevor Project is launching a new video contest called BE THE CHANGE. To enter, all you have to do is record a video explaining how you, or you and your friends, are working hard to BE THE CHANGE as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or allied youth and submit it to memelabs.com/thetrevorproject"
I found Hank's video about Alan Turing and The Trevor Project very interesting because this year I've been spending more and more time learning about the LGBTQ community and their lack of basic human rights, while also researching the feminist movement.
I was curious as to how The Trevor Project had come about and learnt that it was founded by the team behind a short HBO film, Trevor, in which a young boy attempts to take his life after his friends make him an outcast due to his sexuality. They thought that viewers tuning in may also be dealing with similar problems and wanted to broadcast a helpline during the film, but one did not exist, so they created the organization which operates a helpline for crisis and suicide prevention and a web site full of vital resources for teachers and parents.
I would perhaps have not bothered to seek out this information if others had not sparked that strange urge within one to know more about the issues that other people face in this world. This eagerness to be more aware of these issues is thanks to Hank Green, of course, and the amazing women on Tumblr, especially the very influential young woman, Tavi, who is constantly posting quotes, literature and images pointing out discrimination throughout the world.
I found it inspiring that such a young woman (I believe she is 13 or 14) would be interested in her rights and making a difference, and I felt that I too should begin to investigate the journey that many women and men have taken for our right to be treated as equals.
There is a really cool site called autostraddle and they have a great list of books from the 1700's onwards regarding the LGBTQ community, body image, pop culture... I've added so many books to my Amazon Wish-list and I can't wait to learn more, in the meantime I will be reading blogs and searching the Internet.
I always learn so much about the world I'm living in today from those who have come before me, which is why I want to read these books from centuries ago. Yet, I find the passion to enact this awareness by the people living today (especially all the amazingly eloquent folk on YouTube.)
Also, if you're looking for daily inspiration, I really recommend reading the Obituary section daily in the New York Times. I find I have more faith in humanity when I read about a life, which I previously knew nothing about, and learn something valuable from their time here on Earth.
So, coming back to The Trevor Project, you should go to YouTube and search, "be the change," a lot of YouTuber's are involved in the project so visit the site and make a video yourself.
I also really enjoyed the videos from Kristina Horner and Lauren Fairweather. You should check them out.
Alright, back to work.
From that girl who is always trying to be a little less ignorant every day,
Caitilin
7 comments:
Great blog, Caitlin! Thank you for the links :)
It seems a worthy organization to learn about and promote. Most interesting to me is that it was spawned as a side note to an artistic piece released by HBO. When the intentions of a work of art are noble often great things can happen as a result. And you can see it in this exact type of movement.
What ever the cause one chooses to champion it can be often said that in so doing they are also championing a cause within themselves and more often then not, become better people for it.
Thanks for the info, Caitlin. I'll definitely check it out.
-Earle : )
Have you heard of http://www.thisisoz.com.au/ ? Australia is on it's way to helping the LGBT community feel more accepted and I'm proud of that :)
Well The Trevor Project sounds very noble :) So it's time to get involved!
Have fun reading your old books. Very good thing to do there :)
I'm always reading old books which include sci-fi classics from authors such as Ray Bradbury, H.G. Wells or Arthur C. Clarke.
I read alot of old computer magazines too, a great source for learning about electronics and programming.
Alan Turing is a legend, along with Charles Babbage and many others.
May they rest in peace and never be forgotten.
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