Financial Pride: Building Confidence Through Money

For LGBTQ+ young people, the journey to adulthood can feel like stepping into the world without a roadmap. Many of us are navigating identity, community, and resilience all at once—and when you add money into the mix, things can get overwhelming fast. Studies show that LGBTQ+ youth face higher rates of financial stress and often make big financial decisions earlier, with fewer safety nets than their peers. That’s why financial literacy isn’t just about dollars and cents; it’s about survival, independence, and a sense of control. 

This year, It Gets Better is taking a bold new step into that space with Financial Pride, our collaboration with Cash App. Together, we’re working to make sure LGBTQ+ youth have the tools and knowledge to thrive not just emotionally, but financially.

We kicked off the partnership with Queer Cash 101, a webinar workshop for our Youth Voices ambassadors, alumni, and grantee network. Led by Jenni and Lisa Dazols of Modern Family Finance, the session walked through the basics of money management for LGBTQ+ young people preparing to step into the world on their own. From budgeting to building credit, the workshop was a reminder that financial confidence is just as important as self-confidence.

But we didn’t stop there. We’re following it up with First Financial Wins, a new video series highlighting the moments when LGBTQ+ folks felt proud of a money decision they made on their own. Maybe it was opening a first savings account, paying off a bill, or finally having enough to buy something without guilt. Big or small, these milestones matter, and celebrating them shows that financial empowerment is possible for everyone. We even shared a few of our First Financial Wins live in our workshop for everyone to celebrate together.

Those videos will be rolling out weekly and updated here. Stay tuned for more news on our work in the financial literacy space.