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…
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.
Spirit Day is October 19th this year! Millions of Americans will wear purple to speak out against bullying and to show their support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. Join in!
If you are a person who is in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call The Trevor Lifeline now at 866-488-7386 or visit [link] or [link]
BREAKING NEWS: Kevin Keller has been selected as an official ambassador for GLAAD Spirit Day! On October 17th, Archie Comics, along with many other participating corporations, national landmarks, celebrities and schools will “go purple” in a show of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. This is a great honor as this is not only the first year Kevin Keller is participating in this momentous event, but Kevin is also the first fictional character to ever be chosen as a Spirit Day ambassador! Find out more info and take the pledge to “go purple” on 10/17 here: http://www.glaad.org/spiritday#pledge
We Are the Youth is a photographic journalism project chronicling the individual stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in the United States. Donate to our Kickstarter until Sept. 12 and help expand the project to the Midwest and Beyond!
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.
Just because you’re different, it doesn’t mean you’re abnormal. Being gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender is not wrong in any which way, shape or form, you’re all perfect, never let anyone tell you different!
High school is a tough time for everyone; we’re all trying to figure out who we are, how to be adults, and what “clique” we fit into. This is especially difficult if you’re also trying to figure out if you’re gay or not.
I knew by freshman year that I was gay, but that entire year was a lie for me. I thought being gay was bad, or wrong, or maybe just a phase, and I knew I could hide it. But the pressure of all the lies was deeply upsetting, so I told my best friend. She proceeded to tell everyone else, too, to spread rumors about me. My lie was over, people knew, and I felt like everyone was staring at me. But at least I still had the support I needed to stay alive: my boyfriend.
Time to d-d-d-drop some knowledge about LGBTQ+ terms!
Today’s term is non-binary: A person whose gender identity does not conform to the gender binary, which is the erroneous idea that only two distinct and opposite genders exist (man and woman). In reality, many genders exist, and have existed throughout history! Some nonbinary people identify with more than one gender, while others don’t identify with any.
The important thing: there are many ways to be nonbinary, and everyone’s experience with gender is different.
Want more? Writing Our Own Dictionary premieres on our Youtube October 6th! Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode. In the meantime, check out our terms glossary at itgetsbetter.org/glossary.
yknow, I'm really glad that somewhere, someone out there took the time to make a whole blog, just to support people and kids like us, it really really does mean a lot to us. We thancc thee
My dear lgbt+ kid,
I kept this message in my drafts for a long time because it’s so kind - and also because it reminds me that I am doing my best to support people.
I tend to feel guilty for not doing more, for just writing silly little letters on tumblr. Your message really provides a different perspective: I took time to make a whole blog just to share love and comfort! Yay, me!
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