just dropping by to share TRANS ROOSTER!
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ INTRODUCING: Our LGBTQ+ Youth Voices class of 2024! 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
These are some amazinggg LGBTQ+ youth who are already making our world a better place through their activism, art, music, and storytelling.
Some new faces this round plus some familiar ones! Meet them here.
PLUS while we’re at it, take a look at everything (like…a mind-blowing amount of things) that last year’s class accomplished, like:
- Speaking at the rally at NYC Pride
- Being guests on podcasts
- Speaking on panels and at conferences on behalf of LGBTQ+ youth
- Creating art, zines, and music together
- Streaming on Twitch and making TikToks
- Getting to meet each other in LA!
See all of their accomplishments here! Truly gives ya hope that youth are making things better. :’)
Can’t wait to see what the new class has in storeee.
Lil tip for when everyone’s telling you to “just find your chosen family” but…maybe you’re not out yet.
From Teo on our TikTok.
U r cringe and u r free (ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧
As queer people, we often think a lot about our voice - how we use it, or how it sounds - so it was a delight to have this panel of voice actors on Digital Pride Day 3!
As yes, if you needed any evidence that voice actors do try to make their characters sound like they’re in love with each other…here’s your proof.
Watch the whole thing here on our Youtube.
Today is #PanVisibilityDay, celebrating those who are pansexual and/or panromantic! 💖💛💙
Lots of people have questions about what the difference is between bisexuality and pansexuality. Here’s an interpretation from one of our TikTok Creators, Cesar.
How do y'all define the term for yourself?
If you want even more perspective, watch our Bisexuality and Pansexuality episode of Writing our Own Dictionary!
It’s really easy to say things like “Mental health matters” and “make sure you’re taking time for self care!”
But it’s harder to actually do something about it.
So on #MentalHealthAction Day, we wanted to give you something actually tangible you can do to support yourself, right now, or from anywhere: check out imi.guide!
It’s a free, online mental health tool made with and for LGBTQ+ youth - our own Youth Voices even got to have an input in creating it, so you know it’s legit. It has:
🟣 Guides on stress, queerness, stigma, & gender
🟣 Real stories and videos from LGBTQ+ people
🟣 Mental health tips & resources
🟣 A quick exit button!
A study even indicates that imi “boosts positive coping skills and mindsets that are important for supporting the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth.” Yeah, we’ve got that data.
Take this as your sign it’s time to stop scrolling and explore imi.guide here.
Big ol’ Happy #LesbianVisibilityDay to ALL the lesbians:
trans, cis, fluid, non-binary and otherwise GNC; butch, femme, in between, or neither; demi, aro, and ace; questioning, closeted, and everyone else who uses the lesbian label!
We see you, you all belong here. 💜
And we love a vocal trans ally.
Hmm, Ken’s “buddy” who can fit into all of Ken’s clothes, you say…
“Today is the day to make sure that the trans community is visible for who they are and what we stand for. Today is the day to make sure that a trans person in your community feels seen and that their opinions and ideas are heard. Today is the day to make sure that the trans community is seen and most importantly heard in any level of legislation, especially if our rights are up for debate.”
- Kiki (she/her), 14 yo Youth Voice from New Jersey
🏳️⚧️ Today is #TransDayofVisibility.
So, what exactly does that mean in a year when we’ve already been made VERY visible by lawmakers, school officials, and in the media? We asked around in our community. This year, it means…
🟣 Intentionally LISTENING to trans people (including trans youth) about our own personal stories, feelings, and experiences is so vital.
🟣 Allies need to stand UP and speak out alongside us - sometimes it’s not safe for us to do so.
🟣 We need to engage with and share more trans content and uplift trans content creators to learn from each other and educate allies - we have amazing streamers weekly on our Twitch, tons of stories on Youtube, and a whole trans and nonbinary playlist on TikTok!
🟣 We need to share resources to support one another. We have an entire database of over 1,000 LGBTQ+ organizations on our Get Help page that you can filter by issue area and location, including a page just for trans and GNC people at itgetsbetter.org/gethelp. Save it for yourself and share with friends.
🟣 We’re not going to stop celebrating trans joy…
🟣 And while we know hate is being projected by a vocal minority, there are still plenty of people who have our backs.
Flagging!
Aka, how some LGBTQ+ people choose to signal to others that they’re LGBTQ+.
Could be pins, buttons, colors, actual literal flags, haircuts, and so much more - some of which has a long history in the community!
Some people choose not to flag for their safety, or just for their preference. And just because you may do or wear one of these things doesn’t mean you have to be a specific identity, of course.
History books will say they were just realllly good friends right?
Lil queer #womenshistorymonth knowledge from cegjeg on our TikTok: tiktok.com/@itgetsbetter
LGBTQ+ people ages 13-18: Applications are OPEN for our next class of Youth Voices!
If you’re an LGBTQ+ teen activist, educator, content creator, artist, writer, or performer, we want to add your voice to this amazing group to speak up for queer youth across the U.S.
This past year, our Youth Voices Class of 2023 did some amazing things, likeee:
🟣 Talked with USA Today on the rise in book bans across the country and walked through the importance of proper pronoun use with Seventeen
🟣 Collabed on zines about self love, mental health, and Pride
🟣 Spoke at HRC’s Time to Thrive in Atlanta and at SXSW Edu about attempted anti-trans legislation in Texas
🟣 Featured in Pride campaigns for brands like Freeform, Oribe, Chapstick and Zenni
🟣 Met each other at our Youth Summit in LA…
And more! We’d love for ya’ll to join - apply now through April 26 using the link in our bio or at itgetsbetter.org/YV2024. And learn more about the Youth Voices program at itgetsbetter.org/youthvoices.
The Sims added Top surgery scars, chest binders, and shapewear!
Watch the ep of our vodcast, Perfectly Queer, to see a chat with our former Ambassador MomoMisfortune who helped campaign for The Sims to add pronoun options in-game!