Lil Nas X is being honoured as the inaugural recipient of The Trevor Project’s Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year award.
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention organisation dedicated to preventing suicide amongst LGBTQ, and questioning, youth. As part of America’s National Suicide Prevention Month, they have honoured Lil Nas X with The Trevor Project’s Inaugural “Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year Award”.
Community Role Model
Since the singer came out as gay in 2019 through his Twitter, he has been very active and open in advocating for LGBTQ representation and the mental health issues they can face when understanding their sexuality.
He has been open about his own struggle with his sexuality and mental health in his “This is my story” Tik Tok series. Before the release of his single “Montero (CMBYN)”, he also released a letter to his younger self that has gained praise for its vulnerability.
— MONTERO ? (@LilNasX) March 26, 2021
Upon receiving this award, the singer said:
“Discrimination around sexuality and gender identity is still very real, and our community deserves to feel supported and totally free to be themselves. I often get messages from fans telling me about their struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, and it made me realize that this was something bigger than myself. If using my voice and expressing myself in my music can help even one kid out there who feels alone, then it was all worth it.”
The Trevor Project also made note of Lil Nas X’s role in creating conversations surrounding LGBTQ youth in the media, “his vulnerability in his journey to self-acceptance and expression has created space for candid conversations around mental health and sexual identity, signalling to LGBTQ youth that they are not alone”.
The CEO of the organisation was particularly thankful for Lil Nas X’s role as a man of colour in coming forward about his sexuality, as “it’s particularly inspiring to see someone who is Black and LGBTQ and proud and unapologetic”.
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