Janelle Monáe Named Trevor Project's '2022 Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year'
Janelle Monáe’s continuous commitment to LGBTQ+ mental health awareness has now turned into a well-deserved recognition with The Trevor Project.
According to a press release, Monáe was named its 2022 Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year award recipient. The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people.
“Growing up queer and Black in a religious household, I faced a lot of challenges trying to understand my identity and where I fit in as someone who always felt beyond the binary. We, as LGBTQ folks, as people of color, are a powerful and unstoppable community. I want every young queer person out there to know that I see you, you are beautiful in all of your forms, and you are never, ever alone in this world,” they said.
Back in 2018, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, actor, and author shared they were pansexual in a Rolling Stone cover story and in April 2022 revealed they identified as nonbinary on an episode of Jada Pinkett Smith’s Facebook Watch series Red Table Talk.
“As someone who has dealt with depression and anxiety, prioritizing and protecting your mental health is everything,” Monáe continued in her acceptance speech. “Amazing organizations like The Trevor Project have got your back, and I will personally continue to advocate for you and celebrate you always. No matter what you’re going through, your life matters so much — don’t let anyone try to dim your light.”
The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, which examined the mental health experiences of nearly 34,000 LGBTQ+ youth, showed that 45 percent of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, and almost 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary children attempted suicide.
