Since 2010, the It Gets Better Project has collected over 60,000 video stories from LGBTQ people and their allies from around the world. Here are some of our favorites from June 2017.
1. #PorUnFinalFeliz – “For A Happy Ending” Campaign
Through July, our affiliate in Chile, Todo Mejora, continues the campaign Por Un Final Feliz with the help of several media partners. A number of new videos have been uploaded to their YouTube page featuring uplifting stories from Chilean young people, as well as messages of hope from actors and other popular figures.
2. El Summit 2017 de Pride Connection Summit – It Gets Better México
It Gets Better México participated in the 2017 Pride Connection Summit and has a large number of It Gets Better videos uploaded to their YouTube page from other participants they came across there. Featured below is Carlos Maza, a manager over at Moovz, a global LGBT social network that’s particularly popular in Latin America. Pride Connection aims to foster inclusive company cultures for LGBTQ employees at professional work places across the world.
In July, we heard from some of the kids featured in the documentary Check It, which chronicles the journey of a group of young black LGBTQ men and women in Washington D.C., breaking out of poverty by launching clothing labels, walking runways, and putting on fashion shows. Emerging from violence and harassment, they made a family where they didn’t have one.
“Life for the Check It can be brutal, but it’s also full of hope and an indomitable resilience.”
In this series of videos, various members of the Check It share their stories & their messages for others in the LGBTQ community.
EL PAÍS is a daily newspaper based in Madrid, Spain with a circulation of over 15 million unique readers. In this video, a number of their staff have words of encouragement for LGBTQ jóvenes – young people.
5. Petra Bayr, a Member of Austrian Parliament, Says “It Gets Better”!
Petra Bayr knows that there is bullying and even violence against LGBTQ young people in her country. But as part of the government, she she hopes she can encourage young people to come out and stresses that things will be better.
Craving more?! Go to www.itgetsbetter.org, or keep scrolling to learn more about the cool things It Gets Better and its affiliates are doing around the world.
Colombia: It Gets Better Colombia marched for Pride in Bogotá alongside 150,000 other passionate fighters for the LGBTQ community.
España: Our affiliate in Spain also marched at World Pride 2017 alongside our Portuguese and Austrian affiliates! Supported by Lush Spain, we were proud to spread hope for LGBTQ youth around the world.
Paraguay: Meanwhile, It Gets Better Paraguay was busy participating in the first module of a workshop for a leadership school in Oviedo where they educated and empowered young people on topics of human rights.
Greece: Finally, It Gets Better Greece marched at both Pride events in Athens and Thessaloniki. “Ήταν ένα εξαίσιο (It was exquisite!)” they said.
Since 2010, the It Gets Better Project has collected over 60,000 video stories from LGBTQ people and their allies from around the world. Here are some of our favorites from June 2017.
1. Advice From Your Favorite Drag Queens - DragCon 2017
At this year’s DragCon, we met up with some of RuPaul Drag Race’s most wise & hilarious drag queens to ask them for the advice they’d give young people in today’s LGBTQ community.
We partnered with SAGE Table to start conversations with LGBTQ community members of varying generations and backgrounds. Among them were social media creator Shannon Beveridge, Matthieu Dahdah, our own intern McKenna Palmer, and more. The crux: how can we change our future without knowing our past?
3. President Michelle Bachelet - President of Chile
President Michelle Bachelet advocates for the LGBTQI youths of Chile – for their talents and abilities through which a more democratic, inclusive, and tolerant Chile will be built.
“There is a world of possibilities waiting for you,” she promises. [Though she says: “hay un mundo lleno de posibilidades esperándolos”]
Google employees assure others from the LGBTQ community that the future is for them – that it’s for everyone, and that they don’t need to worry about being “normal.”
“Normality” is a beautifully diverse world, they assert.
Craving more?! Go to www.itgetsbetter.org, or keep scrolling to learn more about the cool things It Gets Better and its affiliates are doing around the world.
COLOMBIA: It Gets Better Colombia participated in Pride Month by Marching through Bucaramanga. They invited participants to share their photos using the hashtag #unamarchalgbt
MÉXICO: Our team in México also marched for Pride! Check out their photos across Mexico City on their Facebook here, along with other organized Pride marches alongside the U.S. Embassy, AT&T, Nielson, and more.
CHILÉ: Our affiliate in Chile has launched a new campaign #PorUnFinalFeliz which hopes to provide welfare and assistance to LGBTQ adolescents targeted by bullying or who otherwise have suicidal thoughts. For information on how to contribute, access more information here.
I think loving yourself is really important. Taking care of your own needs is something people need to do, whether it’s listening to music in the bath to escape the world, or remembering to have breakfast. Doing something different with your hair, or recognising you have achieved something good today, however small.
Patrick Starrr Says Life Opens Up When You DoWe partnered in the United States with Patrick Starrr this pride season to spread positive messages with LGBTQ+ youth using #TheirStory!Since 2010, theIt Gets Better Projecthas collected over 60,000video stories from LGBTQ+ people and their allies from around the world. Here are some of our favorite moments from April 2019.
Unite UK’s Charlotte Shares Her Story and Message of Hope
Charlotte one of the co-founders of Unite UK tells her It Gets Better story, about her experience of having an eating disorder and how it got better.
Mexico’s UNDP Representative Gives a Message of Inclusion
Lorenzo Jiménez de Luis, México’s representative for the United Nations Development Programme voiced his message of hope and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community for Pride Month.
Patrick Starrr Says Life Opens Up When You Do
We partnered in the United States with Patrick Starrr this pride season to spread positive messages with LGBTQ+ youth using #TheirStory!
Innovative tech company AMD has released their It Gets Better video in order to foster an inclusive, supportive corporate environment for LGBTQ people. In the video, employees all across the LGBTQ spectrum (and some parents) share their stories of coming out & finding acceptance
“If you have the option to find the village that’s more supportive than the one you have, find it. Don’t be afraid to be by yourself for a little bit before you find the other group of weirdos who are just like you, and who are exactly who you need. Sometimes you have to try some people on before you find those people.”
AMD designs and integrates technology to ignite the next generation of computing graphics solutions. And the brightest minds are open.
Our own Dan Savage – who founded It Gets Better btw – was featured in this list of exemplary Queer Podcasts for his project Savage Lovecast, essentially a podcast version of his weekly sex & relationship advice column.
Also featured in the list are The Read, Homoground (featuring LGBTQ music artists), Pod Save the People, and more.
Since 2010, theIt Gets Better Project has collected over 60,000video stories from LGBTQ+ people and their allies from around the world. Here are some of our favorite moments from April 2019.
Sentiido’s Lina Cuella Shares Her Story With It Gets Better Colombia
Lina Cuella is the Director and Co-founder of Sentiido. It gets better when you love yourself and take pride in the person you are.
It Gets Better España Talks About Myths Around Lesbians On Lesbian Visibility Day
To celebrate Lesbian Visibility Day, our Spanish affiliate brought together three women to talk about myths and stereotypes, about couples, about flirting and about feminism.
Alexander Gaal Shares his Message of Hope with Es Wird Besser
More messages of hope from our German-speaking friends in Austria!
Todo Mejora Shares Hope Also Through Their Safe Hour Program In Chile
This April, Todo Mejora shared some testimonies of how connecting them with this service and their community has changed their lives for the better.
The Cast of Netflix’s New Series Special Shared Their It Gets Better Message
We sat down with queer writer and actor Ryan O’Connell to discuss his new Netflix + Stage13 show, Special.
PLUS incredible posts from across the world celebrating Lesbian Day of Visibility!
At the It Gets Better Project, we envision a world where all LGBTQ+ youth are free to live equally and know their worthiness and power as individuals.
We believe by telling the stories of the LGBTQ+ community we can provide hope and inspiration to the young people who need it the most.
We are proud to collaborate with @popaesthete today on Art Action Day to show LGBTQ+ youth that we are working tirelessly to create a brighter and more inclusive future for them.
So what will they say about 2018? Share your vision for the best version of 2018 and what you will do to make it happen.
Since 2010, the It Gets Better Project has collected over 60,000 video stories from LGBTQ+ people and their allies from around the world.
Here are some of our favorite moments from January 2018.
1. It Gets Better Austria Shares The Coming Out Story of Drag Performer Giselle Borderelle
Before coming out to their family, Giselle Borderelle was afraid of how they would react. As it turns out, Borderelle found immense love and support in their mother. Borderelle says life may be complicated at times, but it will get better!
Volunteer McKenna Palmer went to TwitchCon to interview LGBTQ+ video game streamers and learn more about their world.
4. Colombian Poet Finds Strength Through Friendship
Rodrigo Marel shared his story of love and acceptance with It Gets Better Colombia. By leaning on his friends and family, Marel was able to be proud of his true self.
After facing a difficult childhood, Cielo Simão went on to obtain a master’s degree in biology and become a successful working professional. Simão is proof that it really does get better.
It Gets Better Spain participated in the historical exhibit “A Journey Through LGBT History” at the Irj Riojano Youth Institute.
It Gets Better Austria completed work on their new office, complete with unicorn stickers!
Remember you are beautiful just the way you are. Don’t believe anyone who tells you differently. You will meet other people like you and they will think you are fantastic too. The hard times in your life will become a hazy memory–all you need to take from those times are the lessons you learned about how strong you are–and how you can achieve anything you want to. You were created to be just the person you are. You have every right to be here. Tough times always pass–that’s a rule of life. Know you’re amazing.
It’s been a year, which means it’s now legal to make terrible puns about all this! They can’t arrest us all.
Jokes aside, though, this is the cover of my new comic book, a collection of some of my favourite comics I made in the past year.