‘Hunger Games’ actor Josh Hutcherson has launched a campaign to assist LGBT youth to have access to online resources.
The campaign, entitled ‘Power On’, aims to provide refurbished digital devices to lower income LGBT youths so that they can better organise, and have access to online communities.
The program encourages financially well off teenagers to donate devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets to be cleaned up, installed with software including an LGBT specific social network, and distributed to gender and sexuality youth centres all over America.
The program is a joint effort from The Trevor Project, Straight But Not Narrow and human I-T, acting on a study by GLSEN.
Executive director and CEO of The Trevor Project Abbe Land said that online communities are an important resource for LGBT young people.
“For young LGBTQ people, it may not be easy to find others like them nearby. At The Trevor Project, we know that connecting to a community can lead to support and friendships, as well as reduce the risk for suicide attempts and other high-risk behaviors.”
Hutcherson has previously voiced support for marriage equality and starred in 2010 film ‘The Kids Are Alright’ as the son of a lesbian couple. In addition to advocating for the program, Hutcherson has also donated one of his computers.
“It’s awesome to know that it’ll be used to help a young person out there who, before this campaign, wasn’t able to get access to information and resources that could really help them. I’ve always respected the work that The Trevor Project does, and to have an opportunity for Straight But Not Narrow to collaborate with them on a campaign like Power On is exciting.” he said.
