Jaymes Black | |
|---|---|
| Born | Texas, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Colorado Technical University |
| Occupation | CEO of The Trevor Project |
| Years active | 2024–present |
Jaymes Black is an American executive who serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Trevor Project since July 15, 2024. [1] The Trevor Project is a nonprofit organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services specifically for LGBTQ+ young people. [2]
Jaymes Black grew up in South Texas in a conservative environment and has described their childhood as difficult due to their queer identity. [3] In their teenage years, they struggled with isolation and chose to leave high school after their relationship with a girlfriend was outed publicly. [4] Later in life, Black completed a bachelor’s degree Strayer University and then completed an MBA from Colorado Technical University. [5]
Before joining The Trevor Project, Black's career included both corporate and nonprofit sectors. They held a senior leadership role at Charles Schwab before transitioning to nonprofit leadership. [6] In 2021, Black became President and CEO of Family Equality, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ families. There they led efforts in advocacy, community building, storytelling, fundraising, and overseeing operations. [7]
On July 15, 2024, Jaymes Black became the Chief Executive Officer of The Trevor Project, marking several firsts as the organization’s first Black, first nonbinary, and first openly queer CEO. [8] In early 2025, they improved the organization's U.S. crisis services. This plan included increasing staff focused on direct support, optimizing operations, and expanding their technology. [9]
In June 2025, the U.S. federal government decided to end funding for the LGBTQ+ “Press 3” option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a service provided in partnership with The Trevor Project. [10] The change was set to take effect on July 17, 2025. [11] Black strongly criticized the decision as “devastating” and called it a politicization of suicide prevention, emphasizing the harm it could cause LGBTQ+ youth. [12] They urged Congress to act to preserve the service and stressed that The Trevor Project would continue its 24/7 support independently. [13]
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