Katy Perry, The Trevor Project: Singer Honored for Empowering Gay Youth

Posted on Dec 3rd 2012 10:40AM by Brittany Galla

Katy perry honored trevor project, supports gay youth Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

After being named Billboard's Woman of the Year last week, Katy Perry has a new honor to celebrate.

Last night (Dec. 2), Katy was awarded the Hero trophy for her work empowering LGBTQ youth at an event for The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization.

"I am so proud to be honored by The Trevor Project as a Trevor Hero," Katy told the crowd. "I hope all LGBTQ youth know that they are as valuable as anyone else, that they are amazing and unique, and make the world a more vibrant place. Trevor's life-saving, life-affirming work helps youth find the future they deserve. I want every young person to choose to have a tomorrow and to dream for the future."

Katy went on, "And if they don't get to hear it enough, I hope they know that they can pick up the phone to call the Trevor Lifeline, or log on and talk to someone on TrevorChat. It's okay to ask for help. You are worth it. Make a pledge to yourself to get help if you need it, because we need you in our lives."

Katy also praised the Trevor team members who help save lives by picking up the phones. "The real heroes are the folks at the call centers," she said. "[They're] incredibly inspiring."

The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 and inspired by a 13-year-old boy named Trevor who tried taking his own life after being bullied for being gay. The organization offers crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth in need.

"The Trevor Project is proud to have honored Katy Perry with the Trevor Hero Award," Abbe Land, Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project, said. "'We're honoring her because, really, she has done so much to empower youth. A couple years ago when, unfortunately, a lot of young suicides made the news ... and there was a very visible presence of suicide, Katy stepped up and was out there in the community, speaking against it."

According to RumorFix.com, Katy opened up about her hope for the future of LGBTQ youth in her acceptance speech as well. "I grew up in a very intolerant environment," she said. "For a long time, I was told that people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning were an abomination. As I've grown up, I've freed myself from the mindset. There was some perspective growth in my family. I believe in change ... I believe that sexuality is fluid -- nobody introduces me as, 'This is Katy Perry, she is straight.' I hope in the future that we will all grow beyond labels, beyond treating gays as a novelty friend group."

At the event, "Glee"'s Naya Rivera and Darren Criss performed, and Katy also raised $15,000 by auctioning off a trip with her to Disney Land.

See Katy in Our "Celebrities With a Drag Queen Twin" Photo Gallery