Events
Apr 24, 2018

Lena Waithe + Greg Berlanti to be honored by Trevor Project

The Trevor Project today announced that Emmy Award-winning screenwriter, producer, and actor Lena Waithe; Writers Guild of America Award, Directors Guild of America Award, and Golden Globe Award-nominated writer, director, and producer Greg Berlanti;

and Managing Partner of global consulting firm McKinsey & Company Dominic Barton will all be honored at The Trevor Project’s TrevorLIVE New York gala for their commitment to supporting The Trevor Project’s mission to provide crisis intervention services and end suicide among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning young people. TrevorLIVE New York, the organization’s annual star-studded signature fundraiser billed as “an irreverent evening of music and comedy,” will be held on Monday, June 11 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

 

Waithe, who will be honored with the Hero Award, made history in 2017 by accepting the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for her work on “Master of None,” becoming the first woman of color to do so. The episode, which won her the accolade, chronicles her coming out to herself and her family, through the lens of the Thanksgiving holiday over three decades. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, the episode is largely based on Waithe’s personal experience.  As a writer, Waithe is currently serving as creator and executive producer of “The Chi,” a relevant, timely, and distinctive coming-of-age story that follows six interrelated characters in Chicago’s South Side that finished its first season to rave reviews and was quickly picked up for a second season. In addition to “The Chi,” TBS recently picked up her pilot, “Twenties,” for which she will serve as writer and producer. The project is loosely based on her turbulent twenties and how she navigated her first decade of Los Angeles living.  As an actor, she was most recently seen on the big screen in Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One,” which was released by Warner Bros to great success.

 

“It’s one of the greatest honors of my life to be honored by such a phenomenal organization like The Trevor Project,” said Waithe. “The work that they do is invaluable to the community, and I hope to continue to do work that is worthy of this honor.”

 

Greg Berlanti, who will also receive the Hero Award, is best known for his work as executive producer and co-creator of The CW’s “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” and “Supergirl,” collectively referred to as The CW’s Arrowverse. Additionally, Berlanti serves as executive producer on The CW’s “Riverdale,” “Black Lightning,” and NBC’s “Blindspot.” Berlanti made his film directorial debut in 2000 with “The Broken Hearts Club” and his most recent directorial project is the critically acclaimed “Love, Simon,” an adaptation of the acclaimed YA novel “Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda.”

 

“I am honored to accept the Hero Award at TrevorLIVE New York this year,” said Berlanti. “I have immense admiration for The Trevor Project and their ongoing efforts to provide a safe place for the LGBTQ community and youth in need.”