The Trevor Project Announces Recipients of Its Annual Life and Hope Awards

The Trevor Project Announces Recipients of Its Annual Life and Hope Awards

'Desperate Housewives'' Marc Cherry to Receive The Trevor Life Award and LPI, Media, Inc. to Receive The Trevor Hope Award at Organization's Eighth Annual Cracked Xmas Event

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Trevor Project, the non-profit organization that operates the nation's only around-the-clock suicide prevention helpline for gay and questioning youth, today announced the recipients of its annual honorary awards. Marc Cherry, the creator and executive producer of the hit ABC television series, Desperate Housewives, will receive The Trevor Life Award; LPI Media Inc. (LPI), the publishers of The Advocate, Out and The Out Traveler magazines, will receive The Trevor Hope Award. Both awards will be presented at The Trevor Project's eighth annual Cracked Xmas event, which will be held on December 4, 2005 at The Wiltern LG in Los Angeles.

The Trevor Life Award honors an individual who through his or her example, support, volunteerism and/or occupation, is an inspiration to gay and questioning youth. The Trevor Hope Award honors a company or organization that, through its policies, initiatives and other efforts, demonstrates a commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) causes and is a prominent, public example of corporate acceptance of individuals regardless of sexual orientation. Past recipients of The Trevor Life Award are Debra Messing and Megan Mullally (2004), Rosie O'Donnell (2003), and Armistead Maupin (2002). The prior recipient of The Trevor Hope Award, which was first presented in 2004, is Wells Fargo.

"Given the strong, positive gay sensibility in his body of work and his visible example as a successful, out role model for gay youth across the country, we're thrilled to be honoring Marc Cherry with this year's Trevor Life Award," said Jorge Valencia, executive director of The Trevor Project. "In addition, Marc's important personal contribution helping to underwrite the short film Trevor, the inspiration for The Trevor Project, allows us to further our mission of curbing suicide among gay and questioning teens."

"I am enormously pleased to receive The Trevor Life Award," said Marc Cherry. "Shockingly, suicide is one of the top three killers of young people. The Trevor Project's work is especially critical because gay and questioning youth are three times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. I wish The Trevor Project had been around when I was growing up and had troubled friends."

"Through its groundbreaking and widely read publications, LPI has provided unprecedented support and acceptance of the LGBT community in general and youth in particular and they are, indeed, a worthy recipient of The Trevor Hope Award," said Mr. Valencia. "By proudly, unapologetically and regularly publishing positive gay stories, LPI helps The Trevor Project and its volunteers convince gay youth that their lives have real value and that help exists for the issues and struggles they face. Moreover, LPI has been an important and constant supporter of Trevor and Cracked Xmas from the organization's inception."

"Every day, The Trevor Project saves lives through its helpline, its website and the educational materials it provides to educators and parents and, consequently, we are gratified to receive The Trevor Hope Award," said Judy Wieder, corporate editorial director of LPI Media, Inc. "We hope that our support of this worthy organization will inspire others to become involved so that it can further raise its visibility and expand its services and outreach to meet the overwhelming need of our nation's youth."

In 1998, The Trevor Project held its first annual Cracked Xmas fundraising gala in order to keep The Trevor Helpline open and available to gay and questioning youth. Now an annual event, Cracked Xmas brings together top entertainers to raise the financial resources necessary to fund the organization's services.

About The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization that operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock suicide prevention helpline for gay and questioning youth. The Trevor Helpline, 866.4.U.TREVOR, is a free and confidential service that offers hope through its trained counselors. In addition to the helpline, the organization's website provides information on identifying and assisting potentially suicidal youth and "Dear Trevor", a confidential resource where youth can ask questions about sexual orientation and identity issues. The Trevor Project also provides lifesaving guidance and vital resources to educators and parents. The organization was founded by three filmmakers whose film, Trevor, about a teenager who attempts suicide after realizing that he might be gay, received the 1994 Academy Award(R) for Best Short Film (Live Action).

For more information about The Trevor Project, visit www.TheTrevorProject.org. The Trevor Project is a 501(c)(3) organization.

About LPI Media, Inc.

LPI Media, Inc. is the nation's leading publisher targeting the gay and lesbian community, distributing more than eight million copies of its magazines each year. Its titles include The Advocate, the community's newsmagazine of record since 1967; Out, the popular lifestyle magazine that celebrates the spirit of gay culture, including fashion and style, trends, society, and the arts; The Out Traveler, the nation's only magazine that presents the entire travel experience from a gay perspective; Alyson Publications, the oldest gay and lesbian book-publishing company in America; and Advocate Books, an imprint of Alyson. LPI Media's Internet properties include Advocate.com, Out.com, OutTraveler.com, and HIVPlus.com.

Source: The Trevor Project

CONTACT: Media, Al Duncan, +1-323-394-3002, media@TheTrevorProject.org,
or Donors, Jorge Valencia, +1-310-271-8845, support@TheTrevorProject.org, both
of The Trevor Project

Web site: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

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