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.
What exciting news! NBA Center Jason Collins has come out.
“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay. I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I’m different.” If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.“
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]
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!
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
NBA’s own Jason Collins sat down with us to share his story of coming to terms with himself and how it got better for him once he found community and acceptance. Check it out on this week's It Got Better only on L Studio!
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.
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! : )