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.
By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning adolescents who face bullying and other types of abuse have been told in the media, “It gets better” - and new research supports t…
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.
In 2014, Ward started Fluid Arizona, a group for people who are attracted to more than one gender. […]
“They talk about how my stories have really helped them and they’ll have similar experiences and being able to be a part of the online community helps them identify with other people like them,” he said. “They realize they’re not alone in this world, that they have this strong community that they can share the fears they have, whatever excitements they have, with others just like them.”
After coming out to his friends and family, Ward came out to coworkers at a manufacturing company where he used to work. One of them told him she thought being bisexual was “gross,” he said.
He didn’t let it go.“I told her flat out, ’It’s not gross, and I don’t ever want you to say that to my face again,’” he recalled. He said the coworker apologized.
For our Layout Design and Static Image class at Emily Carr, we were asked to do a poster for a non-profit organization. I chose the It Gets Better Project which is an American, online-based support community for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning individuals. This poster was meant to inspire struggling LGBT teens to keep living and I hope it’ll bring a smile to whoever’s looking at it. I’m saying this from personal experience, life DOES get better :)
The actual poster incorporates a rivet, allowing the viewer to “spin” the world around.
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!
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.
Being bi has given me what seems to be an unusual way to engage the world and empathize with those who see things differently. For me, that is a quality of spirit given by God.
-Rev. Dr. Janet Edwards
Today is Celebrate Bisexuality Day! Here are some of our favorite stories and resources on Christianity and bisexuality:
I just want to share some positivity. I have a really close adult friend who I've known since I was 5 (I'm 18 now) and she's one of the only adults who's consistently been there for me so I see her as a sort of second mom. I came out to her as nonbinary and she took it so well! She's been learning and educating herself about the lgbt community but gender is a new hurdle for her, but she was so accepting of me without any hesitation. I may have cried, just a bit.
That’s fantastic! I’m so glad for you! Coming out is a difficult processes but I’m glad you chose to and I’m glad your friend is educating herself. I hope she only learns more in the future! : )