(OUTscene AMERICA) The Trevor Project Celebrates Sweet 16th Year Anniversary at TrevorLIVE!

Robert Greenblatt                  Getty for TTP

Los Angeles, CA. (December 8, 2014) – Last night at the Hollywood Palladium, The Trevor Project celebrated 16 years of its life-saving, life-affirming work, which provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) teens and young adults. The high-profile annual event, TrevorLIVE Los Angeles, was presented by Wells Fargo and hosted by Jennifer Coolidge. The Trevor Project bestowed the Trevor Hero Award to NBC Entertainment’s Chairman, Robert Greenblatt, for his ongoing support of the LGBTQ community; Yahoo with the 20/20 Visionary Award, for its efforts to advance an empowering future-focused message for LGBTQ young people and its allies nationwide; and Skylar Kergil, a transgender artist, musician and YouTube personality, with the Youth Innovator Award for his passions surrounding LGBTQ rights and advocacy in the community.


While accepting the Trevor Hero Award, Robert stated, “I think the purpose of a night like this is to remind all of us – who live in our perfect little bubbles – that there are many, many people out there with truly serious issues.” Greenblatt continued, “They’ve run out of hope because they don’t feel they can ever be who they are.”


TrevorLIVE featured performances by: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Darren Criss, Alex Newell, Melora Hardin, Marc Shaiman, Ty Herndon and Anita Cochran, Mia Pfirrman and Jessica Sanchez. The event also included special appearances by: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Dan Bucatinsky, Lisa Kudrow, Brittany Snow, Wentworth Miller, Kelly Osbourne, Kellan Lutz, Monica Lewinsky, Molly Ringwald, Kiernan Shipka, Billy Eichner, Adam Scott, Beth Behrs, Jay R. Ferguson, Jason Collins, George Kotsiopoulos, Alexandra Billings, Jack Falahee, Matthew Moy, Pauley Perrette, Matt McGorry, Nolan Gould, Ian Harvie, Michael Gladis, Ryan Eggold, Zackary Drucker, Phoebe Tomkin, Paul Wesley, Kevin Zegers, Harry Shum Jr., Elisabeth Rohm, and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom! Adam Shankman once again served as Executive Producer and Director. Show highlights included below.

Kergil gave an inspirational speech saying, “More than ever, I’m motivated to continue to live openly and share my story to help build safer communities for youth, drive forward meaningful change, and keep the conversations about LGBTQ young people going strong. I fully believe that time and support is one of the most valuable things we can give to one another. Everyone has a story to tell, and there’s always someone out there who’s waiting to hear it.”

“Many things have changed over the course of 16 years – but one crucial fact has carried through: LGBTQ youth deserve a space to get life-affirming help, support, and a sense of safety. That place was, is, and will continue to be, The Trevor Project,” said Abbe Land, The Trevor Project’s Executive Director & CEO.

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people ages 13-24. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its accredited, free and confidential phone, instant message and text messaging crisis intervention services. A leader and innovator in suicide prevention, The Trevor Project offers the largest safe social networking community for LGBTQ youth, best practice suicide prevention educational trainings, resources for youth and adults, and advocacy initiatives. Learn more at TheTrevorProject.org.

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SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

Glee’s Darren Criss and Mia Pfirrman         GETTY for TTP

Glee’s Darren Criss and Mia Pfirrman opened the show with a powerful rendition of Katy Perry’s “Unconditionally.”

YouTube sensation and past Trevor Youth Innovator Award recipient, Tyler Oakley, gushed…and blushed on stage with his blue hair following an introduction from a very dapper Wentworth Miller.

Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson    Getty

Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson somberly came on stage to perform his own rendition of Taylor Swifts “Shake It Off.” Between lyrics, he commented that he realizes how awkward it is to watch a 39-year-old gay man sing Swift’s song. But he didn’t care and told the audience to shake it off.

Adam Scott, Alex Borstein and Billy Eichner urged the crowd to donate as they commented on the live texts donor texts that appeared on the house jumbotrons. One donor was willing to donate if Billy and Adam kissed – they were happy to oblige!

Alex Newell         Getty for TTP

Alex Newell closed out the show with a powerhouse performance of “I Know Where I’ve Been” from Hairspray as heartfelt images portraying the LGBTQ community in the background. The entire audience was brought to their feet with an uproarious applause.