️⚧️ Hasn’t had surgery or HRT (or never wants to)
️⚧️ Doesn’t feel like their true self yet
We see you, it gets better, it’s YOUR day too. ✨
Check out our resource list specifically for trans and gender non-confirming youth here, and join us to celebrate live with some trans joy on Twitch and TikTok!
Twitch: Join us at 7:30pm EST/4:30 PST on March 31 for a chat with our Ambassadors, Youth Voices, and streamers about what visibility means to them, recent anti-trans legislation, and of course, self care and and queer joy. Streaming from our Twitch channel: twitch.tv/itgetsbetter.
TikTok: Watch our It Gets Better TikTok Creator Somaya perform original music live and share a little bit of their LGBTQ+ journey! Happening March 31 at 9:15pm EST/6:15 PST! Follow using the link in our bio or on TikTok @ itgetsbetter.
“I wanted to do ballet as a kid. My parents refused. I cheered briefly in high school. My parents made me quit. I was a high school theatre geek who had potential to study seriously. My parents didn’t support.
I’m still gay. Denying me joy and expression didn’t change that.”
The2017 National School Climate Survey is GLSEN’s tenth national survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual+, transgender, and queer youth. It is a crucial tool in GLSEN’s mission for fighting anti-LGBTQ+ bias in K-12 schools across the nation. The information gathered from this survey will help GLSEN to inform education policymakers and the public about the right of all students to be treated with respect in their schools.
La Nacional sobre el Ambiente Escolar 2017 es la décima encuesta de jóvenes lesbianas, homosexuales, bisexuales, transgéneros, y queer. Es fundamental a la misión de GLSEN a luchar contra los prejuicios anti-LGBTQ+ que existe en las escuelas K-12 en todo el país. La información recopilada a partir de esta encuesta ayudará a GLSEN a informar legisladores de educación y el público sobre el derecho que tienen todos los estudiantes ser tratados con respeto en las escuelas.
If you attended high school or middle school sometime during the last school year (2016-2017), identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual+, transgender, queer or questioning, and are at least 13 years old, tell us about your experiences in school. (If you did not complete the entire school year you can still participate in the survey.) The survey is completely anonymous.
Si asistió un colegio o una escuela mediana alguna vez durante el último año escolar (2016-2017), identifica como lesbiana, homosexual, bisexual+, transgénero, queer o está cuestionando su sexualidad, y tiene al menos de 13 años, cuéntanos sus experiencias en la escuela. (Si no completó todo el año escolar todavía puede participar en la encuesta.) La encuesta está completamente anónima.
Thesurvey asks questions about your experiences in school, including hearing homophobic remarks, being harassed because of your sexual orientation and/or how you express your gender and how supportive your school is of LGBTQ+ students.
Laencuesta contiene preguntas sobre sus experiencias escolares, incluyendo si ha oído comentarios homofóbicos, si ha acosado a causa de su orientación sexual y/o como expresa su género y como su escuela apoya los estudiantes LGBTQ+.
Did you know?“Ahigher percentageofbisexual students reported running away from home one or more timescompared totheirgay and straight peers. In addition, more bisexual youth stated they werehomeless because of physical abuse by parents than their straight and gay peers. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual homeless youth also have greaterHIV risks and these risks are greateramongbisexual female youth. Therefore, stronger policies are needed to provide bisexual+ youth with safe environments to live that are off the streets.“ ~excerpt from“Caring for Bisexual+ Homeless Youth” by BRC (24 March 2016)
Did you know?Transgender people and people of colorcompriselarge portions of the bisexual community –– with more than 40 percent of LGBT people of color identifying as bisexual, and about halfoftransgender people describing their sexual orientationasbisexual or queer (according to various other research studiesBisexual is the largest self-identityforTrans people. Followed by percentages: Queer, Heterosexual/Homosexual, Other, and Asexual) –– making these groups vulnerable to further disparities that occur at the intersections of biphobia, racismandtransphobia.~from“Health Disparities Among Bisexual People” by HRC (September 2015)
The2017 National School Climate Survey is GLSEN’s tenth national survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual+, transgender, and queer youth. It is a crucial tool in GLSEN’s mission for fighting anti-LGBTQ+ bias in K-12 schools across the nation. The information gathered from this survey will help GLSEN to inform education policymakers and the public about the right of all students to be treated with respect in their schools.
La Nacional sobre el Ambiente Escolar 2017 es la décima encuesta de jóvenes lesbianas, homosexuales, bisexuales, transgéneros, y queer. Es fundamental a la misión de GLSEN a luchar contra los prejuicios anti-LGBTQ+ que existe en las escuelas K-12 en todo el país. La información recopilada a partir de esta encuesta ayudará a GLSEN a informar legisladores de educación y el público sobre el derecho que tienen todos los estudiantes ser tratados con respeto en las escuelas.
If you attended high school or middle school sometime during the last school year (2016-2017), identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual+, transgender, queer or questioning, and are at least 13 years old, tell us about your experiences in school. (If you did not complete the entire school year you can still participate in the survey.) The survey is completely anonymous.
Si asistió un colegio o una escuela mediana alguna vez durante el último año escolar (2016-2017), identifica como lesbiana, homosexual, bisexual+, transgénero, queer o está cuestionando su sexualidad, y tiene al menos de 13 años, cuéntanos sus experiencias en la escuela. (Si no completó todo el año escolar todavía puede participar en la encuesta.) La encuesta está completamente anónima.
Thesurvey asks questions about your experiences in school, including hearing homophobic remarks, being harassed because of your sexual orientation and/or how you express your gender and how supportive your school is of LGBTQ+ students.
Laencuesta contiene preguntas sobre sus experiencias escolares, incluyendo si ha oído comentarios homofóbicos, si ha acosado a causa de su orientación sexual y/o como expresa su género y como su escuela apoya los estudiantes LGBTQ+.
Did you know?“Ahigher percentageofbisexual students reported running away from home one or more timescompared totheirgay and straight peers. In addition, more bisexual youth stated they werehomeless because of physical abuse by parents than their straight and gay peers. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual homeless youth also have greaterHIV risks and these risks are greateramongbisexual female youth. Therefore, stronger policies are needed to provide bisexual+ youth with safe environments to live that are off the streets.“ ~excerpt from“Caring for Bisexual+ Homeless Youth” by BRC (24 March 2016)
Did you know?Transgender people and people of colorcompriselarge portions of the bisexual community –– with more than 40 percent of LGBT people of color identifying as bisexual, and about halfoftransgender people describing their sexual orientationasbisexual or queer (according to various other research studiesBisexual is the largest self-identityforTrans people. Followed by percentages: Queer, Heterosexual/Homosexual, Other, and Asexual) –– making these groups vulnerable to further disparities that occur at the intersections of biphobia, racismandtransphobia.~from“Health Disparities Among Bisexual People” by HRC (September 2015)
Today (02/14/21) is Beloved Arise’s anniversary. In celebration, we want to thank you all for the support you’ve given us. Whether that’s been through volunteering, sharing our social media, donating, or just helping us grow. Thank you for showing support for queer youth of faith. And to queer youth of faith, thank you for showing up as your authentic selves. You are BeLOVED Here is to many more years to come!
️⚧️ What happens if your state won’t allow you to access gender-affirming care, like HRT?
Some states are stepping up where others are stepping back. Connecticut is the first state to pass a “safe state” law that will protect people who are seeking gender-affirming care or abortion care if it becomes illegal in their home state. Connecticut’s law also means criminalizing states can’t use out-of-state warrants to arrest parents or guardians for helping their child get care there, and would restrict other states from subpoenaing the medical records of families who sought gender-affirming care outside of their home states.
Some other states are on track to pass laws like this, too. While not everyone has the resources to be able to pack up and move, states passing “sanctuary” laws like this want to make it clear that we are welcome. ️⚧️
️⚧️ Hasn’t had surgery or HRT (or never wants to)
️⚧️ Doesn’t feel like their true self yet
We see you, it gets better, it’s YOUR day too. ✨
Check out our resource list specifically for trans and gender non-confirming youth here, and join us to celebrate live with some trans joy on Twitch and TikTok!
Twitch: Join us at 7:30pm EST/4:30 PST on March 31 for a chat with our Ambassadors, Youth Voices, and streamers about what visibility means to them, recent anti-trans legislation, and of course, self care and and queer joy. Streaming from our Twitch channel: twitch.tv/itgetsbetter.
TikTok: Watch our It Gets Better TikTok Creator Somaya perform original music live and share a little bit of their LGBTQ+ journey! Happening March 31 at 9:15pm EST/6:15 PST! Follow using the link in our bio or on TikTok @ itgetsbetter.
The recent legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ youth have felt…overwhelming.
From Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill to families of trans kids being under fire in Texas, to multiple other states attempting to bar trans kids from playing sports.
OurYouth Voices shared their initial reactions to these attacks on teens like them, but also how they’re taking action!
“When I first came out at my high school, I was asked to use a single-stall bathroom reserved for those with chronic illness and complications that needed to be taken care of in private. And I am here to tell Alabama legislators this — I am not a disease. My transgender identity is not an illness, it is not debilitating, and the rhetoric you are spewing to paint myself and other trans youth as predators is disgusting. That is the disease — your dangerous, close-minded, and unruly ability to paint transgender youth as monsters” –
The action:
“I am getting involved by contacting my local representatives! To be frank, the most I can do right now to take care of myself is just to exist. To be trans, to be hurt, and to process it. To be me.”
-Hailey (she/her), age 17, Alabama
Read what all the Youth Voices have to say on the blog!
️ We wrote you a little letter to remind you that SO many people have your back:
On Tuesday, March 8, Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed the state Senate. If signed, which looks likely, “classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity” in kindergarten through third grade would be banned.
This is disappointing and dangerous. It sends a message to LGBTQ+ youth that they aren’t important, and that their stories and experiences don’t belong in the classroom. Every time one of these bills passes, we get angry. In fact, in the time it took us to write and edit this post and send it out to our email list, Idaho’s House approved legislation “that makes it a felony for a doctor to provide age-appropriate, gender-affirming care for transgender children,” according to the HRC.
The hits seem to keep coming, and they aren’t showing signs of slowing down.
But as angry and as frustrated as we are and will continue to be, we are equally inspired and encouraged by the hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, and allies who are taking to the streets, walking out of schools, and standing up for the right to exist.
To the young LGBTQ+ people who are reading this, we hear you, we see you, and you are VERY important. We will continue to share your stories and amplify your voices.
There are so many ways the It Gets Better Project is working to create a world where all LGBTQ+ youth are free to live equally and recognize their own worth and power. Because you’re worth fighting for. Because your stories and your experiences matter.
Why stream for us? Let our current It Gets Better Ambassadors explain why you should totally join us.
We’re looking for our next round of paid LGBTQ+ Ambassadors who stream from our It Gets Better Twitch channel, plus charity-streaming Partner and Affiliate positions to help us raise money and awareness! Membership levels include:
️Ambassador Membership
Want to stream with us from our channel? Our It Gets Better Ambassadors are paid streamers who are passionate about creating LGBTQ+ positive content! As an Ambassador, you’ll commit to representing the It Gets Better Project on our Twitch channel through gameplay, coming out stories, discussing LGBTQ+ representation in gaming and the media, fireside chats and interviews, makeup tutorials, drag, musical performances, art demos, and more.
️It Gets Better Partner Membership
Are you already part of a stream team that loves to fundraise? Our It Gets Better Partner membership is designated for established Twitch stream teams who will work together, as a team, to support us through charity streaming on members’ Twitch channels.
️It Gets Better Affiliate Membership
Love charity streaming to raise funds and awareness for organizations you care about? As an It Gets Better Affiliate member, you’ll commit to supporting our work through a predetermined number of charity streams on your personal Twitch channel.
Help us keep growing our Twitch as a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and join an amazing community of other queer streamers - apply now here and share with your fave LGBTQ+ streamers!
During #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re honoring queer youth MAKING history!
Since Ashton Mota came out at 12 years old, he’s been fighting for the rights of our trans community - and he has a message to queer and questioning youth:
“You know who you are, and though you may not be ready to tell and show the world, just know that when you are, there will be a community waiting to embrace you, as you.”
Ashton, we salute your courageous activism ️️⚧️⚖️
The2017 National School Climate Survey is GLSEN’s tenth national survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual+, transgender, and queer youth. It is a crucial tool in GLSEN’s mission for fighting anti-LGBTQ+ bias in K-12 schools across the nation. The information gathered from this survey will help GLSEN to inform education policymakers and the public about the right of all students to be treated with respect in their schools.
La Nacional sobre el Ambiente Escolar 2017 es la décima encuesta de jóvenes lesbianas, homosexuales, bisexuales, transgéneros, y queer. Es fundamental a la misión de GLSEN a luchar contra los prejuicios anti-LGBTQ+ que existe en las escuelas K-12 en todo el país. La información recopilada a partir de esta encuesta ayudará a GLSEN a informar legisladores de educación y el público sobre el derecho que tienen todos los estudiantes ser tratados con respeto en las escuelas.
If you attended high school or middle school sometime during the last school year (2016-2017), identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual+, transgender, queer or questioning, and are at least 13 years old, tell us about your experiences in school. (If you did not complete the entire school year you can still participate in the survey.) The survey is completely anonymous.
Si asistió un colegio o una escuela mediana alguna vez durante el último año escolar (2016-2017), identifica como lesbiana, homosexual, bisexual+, transgénero, queer o está cuestionando su sexualidad, y tiene al menos de 13 años, cuéntanos sus experiencias en la escuela. (Si no completó todo el año escolar todavía puede participar en la encuesta.) La encuesta está completamente anónima.
Thesurvey asks questions about your experiences in school, including hearing homophobic remarks, being harassed because of your sexual orientation and/or how you express your gender and how supportive your school is of LGBTQ+ students.
Laencuesta contiene preguntas sobre sus experiencias escolares, incluyendo si ha oído comentarios homofóbicos, si ha acosado a causa de su orientación sexual y/o como expresa su género y como su escuela apoya los estudiantes LGBTQ+.
Hey y’all! In the past few months I graduated from university and relocated to San Diego. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to help develop a new LGBTQ+ Drop in Center for LGBTQ+ identifying youth/families in North County, San Diego. The Program is apart of a larger teen center that has various services to help youth, mine hoping to provide more services for queer youth ages 12-21 in San Diego. Are program is still very new, but we have started a variety of programming and wanted to offer the resource on here in case any of y’all are in the area. We have a grant that is providing funding, so we want to spend money in a way that truly supports the needs of youth in the area. Feel Free to email me if you have any other questions!
a lot of shit i hear in the discourse reminds me of actual things homophobes say irl and it’s… really troubling?
“preteens identifying as ace is sexualizing!” whenever i headcanon a character as gay or bi/pan, my mom tells me, not everything has to be sexual. lgbt identities are viewed as inherently sexual and inappropriate for children.
“why do you feel the need to talk about being ace? it’s tmi, no one needs or wants to know about your sex life except your partner.” i’m not against your lifestyle, just keep it in the bedroom, okay?
“telling kids they can experience sexual attraction is grooming.” please stop conflating minority orientations to pedophilia, this has been used against gay people forever.
“asexuality is a disease and doesn’t naturally occur.” do i even have to explain this one?
what i’m trying to say is that it’s really hurtful for me, an ace lesbian, to hear this rhetoric used against me by straight people because i’m gay, then go into lgbt spaces–which are supposed to be safe for me–and hear other gay people saying almost word-for-word the exact same things, this time directed against my asexuality.
please stop using these arguments. don’t repackage homophobic rhetoric and use it against a different minority orientation.
![bisexual-community: [USA]: 2017 National School Climate Survey (Encuesta sobre el Ambiente Escolar)](https://64.media.tumblr.com/b710e5a97f33ee57c4ed72ff383183db/tumblr_ot98msnh981qiekgdo1_1280.png "bisexual-community: [USA]: 2017 National School Climate Survey (Encuesta sobre el Ambiente Escolar)")
![bisexual-community: [USA]: 2017 National School Climate Survey (Encuesta sobre el Ambiente Escolar)](https://64.media.tumblr.com/d99be15919ab2642c9c40dbfbd90beab/tumblr_ot98msnh981qiekgdo3_1280.jpg "bisexual-community: [USA]: 2017 National School Climate Survey (Encuesta sobre el Ambiente Escolar)")
