Make LGBTQ History: Share and Leave a Lasting Impression

AT&T’s “Love is Changing History” Project Supports Suicide Prevention Leader, The Trevor Project; Share Films Co-Directed by Lance Bass and Pauley Perrette to Join the Cause

Dallas, Texas, October 01, 2013

A rare chance to join a movement and make history kicks off today with the AT&T* “Love is Changing History” project. It’s an opportunity to share personal stories and two online films that show how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) love is changing history every day. Individuals are encouraged to share two films, co-directed by Lance Bass and Pauley Perrette, as well as their own unique stories of a “Love is Changing History” moment on www.LoveisChangingHistory.com. In return, AT&T will contribute a minimum of $25,000 and up to $100,000 to The Trevor Project, the nation’s leading non-profit providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth.

The online films co-directed by celebrities and activists Lance Bass and Pauley Perrette will show how LGBTQ love is changing history all over the world. In addition, AT&T will also submit the films and submissions to be archived in the Library of Congress—one of the world’s largest libraries, and America’s oldest federal cultural institution.

“I want to encourage everyone to spread the word about how same sex love is breaking down barriers,” said Bass. “This is a chance to get involved in something special – to truly leave a lasting impression. Together, we can create a more inclusive and accepting tomorrow.”

From September 30 through November 11, participants can join the movement in the following ways:

1. Visit the “Love is Changing History” website, www.loveischanginghistory.com to share the site on Facebook and Twitter and AT&T will donate $1 to The Trevor Project.
2. Share one of the films from the “Love is Changing History” website on Facebook and Twitter and AT&T will donate $1 to The Trevor Project.
3. Submit a story that represents a “Love is Changing History” moment on the website and AT&T will donate a $1 to The Trevor Project.

Visitors of the “Love is Changing History” website can also keep track of the social shares on the global impact page that tracks real-time shares of the films around the world. You can also follow the project on Twitter using #ChangeHistory.

The Trevor Project’s crisis services are accredited by the American Association of Suicidology and include the Trevor Lifeline phone service, TrevorChat instant messaging, and now, TrevorText to serve a youth community that is more and more mobile. The Trevor Project also operates a safe social networking community for LGBTQ youth, serving more than 70,000 young people worldwide. Trevor also offers trainings for both youth and adults to learn about suicide prevention, and also to help improve understanding about the challenges and risks faced by LGBTQ youth.

AT&T and The Trevor Project will work to enhance Trevor’s communications and improve outreach to LGBTQ youth in crisis.

“AT&T knows the importance of respecting and recognizing diverse segments,” said Laura Hernandez, Executive Director, Diverse Markets, AT&T. “We’re showing our support of the LGBTQ community with fun yet meaningful social media campaigns like ‘Live Proud,’ and now, ‘Love is Changing History.’”

“The Trevor Project is grateful for AT&T’s commitment to enhance our ability to serve LGBTQ youth in crisis,” said Abbe Land, Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. “It is so important that vulnerable youth know that they are valuable and that people care about them. Projects like ‘Love is Changing History’ and ‘Live Proud,’ help affirm that message, and more importantly, these campaigns engage whole communities to share their support of LGBTQ youth.”

AT&T has a long history of supporting LGBTQ employees. AT&T became one of the first Fortune 500 companies to adopt a non-discrimination policy toward sexual orientation in 1975. It became one of the first to adopt domestic partner benefits for LGBTQ employees in 1999. AT&T has been listed in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s “Best Places to Work” for LGBTQ employees since 2004. It has also received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI).

AT&T’s goal is to ensure that all employees have a chance to be included in the company’s mission through its 11 employee resource groups (ERG) including LEAGUE at AT&T, the company’s LGBT and allies ERG. These groups offer opportunities for employees to learn, network, interact and grow professionally. LEAGUE at AT&T was founded by employees in 1987, making it the first LGBT employee resource group in the nation.