Hunger Games star backs campaign to help rural LGBT youth
Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson has launched a campaign to help LGBT people in rural communities get online.
The actor, who plays Peeta Mellark in the dystopian film series, helped launch Human I-T’s PowerOn campaign this week, alongside charities The Trevor Project and Straight But Not Narrow.
The project aims to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in rural communities access online resources and communities, which studies have shown are often integral to coming out.
Donating his own laptop, Hutcherson said: “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.”
The campaign calls on people to donate their old laptops, tablets, and smartphones, so they can be refurbished and redistributed across communities with poor access to technology.
The Trevor Project CEO Abbe Land said: “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.”
