Friend of Trevor—

The results of yesterday’s midterm elections will affect the direction our country takes for years, if not longer. But one truth is constant here at The Trevor Project:

We wake up every day dedicated to making our world a loving, welcoming place for LGBTQ young people like Skyler, whose story is below — and which I urge you to take a moment to read. It will lift your spirits!

In community,

Tina M. Barber
she/her/hers
Director of Community Philanthropy
The Trevor Project
Make a life-saving gift: thetrevorproject.org/familyacceptance

Hi Friend of Trevor,

When The Trevor Project took this photo of Skyler, Andrew, and Tom, it was the first time they’d seen each other in around seven years. Tom didn’t accept that his granddaughter was trans, so there was little contact between them and Andrew, who is Tom’s son and Skyler’s dad.

Before I tell you more about Skyler, Andrew, and Tom’s story, I want to ask you to please make a gift to Trevor today. Your generosity will allow Trevor to provide life-saving suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ young people who may not have their families’ love and support.

When Andrew told Tom that Skyler was trans, Tom said that he and his wife Sue Ellen “... questioned how they knew because it was at a very young age. We felt that it was coming on too strong, too fast for a small child. We couldn’t work our way through it.”

Tom and Sue Ellen tried to learn about the trans community but they weren’t sure where to look, “... and so we did not go forward and we should have and most definitely, I'm embarrassed that we didn't,” he said.

Then Tom accepted Andrew’s invitation to meet with him and Skyler this summer, where Tom could educate himself and meet trans young people.

Tom apologized to Skyler and Andrew for being so closed off. “That’s really sad. And I’m sorry,” he said to them. And he promised to tell people who have trans children or grandchildren to stop wasting time and “... become an integral part of accepting and being accepted.”

Skyler, Andrew, and Tom’s journey back into each other’s lives is a testament to the beauty of love, the willingness to change — and the power of our community.

Together, we must support LGBTQ young people who don’t have parents like Andrew and grandparents like Tom. In their dark moments, when they reach out to Trevor, we must tell them that they are perfect just the way they are. That’s what your support will make possible, so please make your gift today.

In partnership and with gratitude,

Tina Barber
she/her/hers
Director of Community Philanthropy