In Celebration of Travis Flores
May 28, 2024
Travis’ fight may have come to an end this week, but his journey is far from over. We’re celebrating the life of Travis Flores, an incredible spirit and a part of the It Gets Better family.
Blog
Read more about what’s going on in the world and in the minds of LGBTQ+ youth.
All Haunting Things and Two Additonal Poems
May 23, 2024
For Mental Health Awareness Month, writer and poet Srijani Rupsha Mitra shares her poems “All haunting things,” “On home” and “Let desires thrive.”
It Gets Better EDU Has Been Cooking Up Something New!
May 20, 2024
By Rae Sweet Last year, It Gets Better EDU hosted its first open digital workshops, LGBTQ+ Career Day and Queer Pathways, providing LGBTQ+ youth the unique opportunity to meet with LGBTQ+ professionals, learn about their life-path after high school , and the potential careers that await them. These workshops were a huge success, and wereContinue reading “It Gets Better EDU Has Been Cooking Up Something New!”
The Pan-Vibe Magic
Queer model and writer wants pansexual young people to know “your experience is valid” and “the coolest stories are the ones that celebrate every shade of the rainbow.”
Celebrating a Decade of Empowerment
May 16, 2024
As It Gets Better México turns 10, Alex Orué (Global Programming for It Gets Better and former Exec Director of It Gets Better México) looks back on the fight for LGBTQ+ youth and the exciting things that are still to come.
To Be Jewish and Queer
May 13, 2024
Ariella Assouline writes that she will always be a Jew first, but the and’s that follow will continue to enrich her life.
There is ALWAYS Someone Who Looks Like You!
May 9, 2024
Jayan Singh was “never short on friends who looked like me” – until high-school. After back-burnering his intersectionality, Jayan formed his school’s first Asian Student Alliance and found family with other “brown queer friends.”
Teachers Can Help Change the World
May 8, 2024
It Gets Better Senior Education Coordinator Rae Sweet issues a love letter to LGBTQ+ supportive teachers — including their own parents.
LGBTQ+ Russians Find Hope Outside of Their Motherland
May 3, 2024
It Gets Better Russia was forced to go dark in 2022. But its back, capturing the stories of Russian refugees in Spain.
“Queerbook” is Available Now
May 1, 2024
Our new book of short stories, artwork, poetry, photography, essay and more is entirely “for queer youth, by queer youth.”
Youth Voices: Class of 2025
April 23, 2024
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Attn LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-18: Applications are OPEN for our next class of Youth Voices!
Visibility and Beyond
Guest blogger Sara Popkin writes about the need to see, understand and celebrate ALL lesbians on Lesbian Visibility Day.
It Gets Better x American Red Cross
April 18, 2024
By Brian Wenke – Executive Director, It Gets Better My mother worked for the American Red Cross for nearly 25 years. I am convinced her nonprofit career inspired mine, as I was introduced at a very young age to the importance of service (and being of service) for the betterment of society. My mom focusedContinue reading “It Gets Better x American Red Cross”
Intersex Community: A Mini-Documentary of Voices in Peru
April 17, 2024
Haz click aquí para leer este artículo en español. In a groundbreaking new mini-documentary produced by It Gets Better Perú, supported by the US Embassy in Peru and Converse, the voices of intersex Peruvians echo with resilience, courage, and determination. “Intersex Community” (Comunidad Intersex in Spanish) sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences, challenges, and myths surroundingContinue reading “Intersex Community: A Mini-Documentary of Voices in Peru”
What’s One Thing You’d Tell Your Younger Self?
April 9, 2024
Our Instagram family shares empowering messages for their younger LGBTQ+ selves about self-love, acceptance, and the courage to find belonging.
Confirming My Asexuality in a Sexcentric Society
Sex is EVERYWHERE — which is why queer writer/streamer Nicole Young had such a difficult time confirming her asexual identity.
Partner With It Gets Better
March 27, 2024
Brand partnerships play a crucial role in It Gets Better’s success, and as we gear up for Pride Month, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Trans Youth Deserve Better
March 12, 2024
Trans youth need allies to stand up and speak out NOW! It’s a matter of life and death. READ THEIR OPEN LETTER HERE!
Let’s Talk About Sex Ed
March 6, 2024
It Gets Better Canada is partnering with Durex for a comprehensive online hub devoted to navigating inclusive sex education.
Grantee Spotlight – Seattle, Washington
February 27, 2024
These students in Seattle hosted a whole conference for LGBTQ+ students! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
It Gets Better Made Me Believe Real Change is Tangible
Ava K. writes about the It Gets Better grant that allowed their “biggest aspirations and dream project” to become possible — Q-Center in New Orleans, LA.
Grantee Spotlight – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
February 21, 2024
These students in Milwaukee, WI hosted a Pride conference across 15 different schools!
Grantee Spotlight – Texas
These students in Texas taught teachers about LGBTQ+ issues!! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Remembering Nex Benedict
We will keep fighting for kids like Nex Benedict, an amazing sounding nonbinary 16-year-old who is gone too soon.
As a queer teacher in Texas, I could have used this opportunity.
February 15, 2024
Attention teachers and LGBTQ+ students — find out how you can raise $10K for your school.
🏳️🌈Get $10K for your school! 🏳️⚧️
February 1, 2024
We’ve given more than $1 million to LGBTQ+ students, and we want to give more! Year three of 50 States. 50 Grants. is here.
New Year, New Us, New Name, New Website
January 24, 2024
Our work is no longer a project — it’s a rallying cry. So allow us to reintroduce ourselves. We’re It Gets Better, and we are laser-focused on creating a better world for young queer people EVERYWHERE.
Brave & Authentic: A Peruvian Trans Documentary
December 21, 2023
By Alex Orué Haz click aquí para leer este artículo en español. Since 2016, our Affiliate in Peru has worked tirelessly to bring visibility to LGBTQ+ stories in one of Latin America’s most diverse and conservative countries. As we’ve seen recently with the rise in anti-trans initiatives around the world, sharing stories of the trans communityContinue reading “Brave & Authentic: A Peruvian Trans Documentary”
Our 2023 Impact Report
December 19, 2023
Thank you for being part of supporting LGBTQ+ youth in 2023! Take a look at some of the incredible things we’ve been able to do with your help.
Believing in better is critical for LGBTQ+ youth survival!
Hi, I’m Jay Taylor, the Graphic Designer for the It Gets Better Project. There’s a warmth that swells in my chest when I say that. After growing up in environments that sought to suppress aspects of my identity, I now have the privilege of shaping the visual identity of an organization that helped me stayContinue reading “Believing in better is critical for LGBTQ+ youth survival!”
The “Most” Wonderful Time of the Year
December 18, 2023
By Sarah Dean The most wonderful time of the year – the holidays. On the surface, holidays are strung with garlands, adorned with glittering decorations, and scored with the most jovial music. Cheesy movies show us whirlwind romances under the mistletoe, reconciled families, and communities coming together. But, unfortunately, it’s not always that picture-perfect. ForContinue reading “The “Most” Wonderful Time of the Year”
We Need Your Support for LGBTQ+ Journeys Like Mine!
December 11, 2023
By Yarit Rodriguez Hola Amigues, I am a recent addition to the It Gets Better Project, and these past months have been transformative. I want to share a little about my journey so you’ll better understand the impact your support has in reaching English- and Spanish-speaking LGBTQ+ youth. My family moved to the U.S. fromContinue reading “We Need Your Support for LGBTQ+ Journeys Like Mine!”
When You See Queer Joy Like This, It Changes Everything!
December 7, 2023
Our Executive Director Brian Wenke takes a look at the road ahead for LGBTQ+ youth and the It Gets Better Project in 2024. It has been a rough year for our community. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation continues to threaten our existence in nearly every U.S. state — our beloved transgender community bearing the brunt of this hatred.Continue reading “When You See Queer Joy Like This, It Changes Everything!”
…For the Inclusion of Nonbinary People
December 5, 2023
Haz click aquí para leer este artículo en español. By Alex Orué As the nonbinary community grows in numbers and visibility, it also faces new challenges — among the biggest, respect and accurate representation through language. That’s particularly true in one of the most gender-based languages in the world: Spanish. Late last year, the ItContinue reading “…For the Inclusion of Nonbinary People”
Your Dollars in Action: Youth Voices
November 30, 2023
Over the last few days, more than 150 of you have told us you Believe in Better for LGBTQ+ youth. With your help and a match from our friends at Oribe, we’ve raised more than $20,000 toward our end-of-year goal. Now we still have a ways to go, but supporters like you got us a heck of aContinue reading “Your Dollars in Action: Youth Voices”
VA School Board Rejects It Gets Better Grant
November 28, 2023
Feelin’ rejected – In the last two years, we’ve awarded grants to more than 120 schools in the U.S. and Canada — and 99% of the time, we have no issues getting schools these funds. But earlier this month, a Virginia school board rejected our $10,000 It Gets Better grant for students! We started our 50 States.Continue reading “VA School Board Rejects It Gets Better Grant”
Let LGBTQ+ Kids Be Themselves, On and Off the Stage
November 21, 2023
By Brian Wenke – Executive Director, It Gets Better Project As a social outcast in high school, my saving grace was the acceptance I found in my high school’s drama department. I could be whoever I wanted to be without fear of bullying, if only for a couple of hours a day. It was an essentialContinue reading “Let LGBTQ+ Kids Be Themselves, On and Off the Stage “
It Gets Better: Nneka Onuorah
November 20, 2023
From traveling the country to interview Black lesbians about masculinity and femininity for her first documentary The Same Difference, to winning an EMMY for directing Lizzo’s reality series, Nneka says, “It gets better is the realest phrase I’ve ever heard.”
WATCH: “The Drag Queen’s Diaries”
November 16, 2023
“The Drag Queen’s Diaries”, presented by our affiliate It Gets Better Guatemala, is a captivating musical that weaves together narratives of hope and resilience within the queer community. Delving into themes of discrimination, self-discovery, and the importance of chosen family, the production unites local drag artists from diverse collectives. “The Drag Queen’s Diaries” introduces charactersContinue reading “WATCH: “The Drag Queen’s Diaries””
What We Learned: 2023 Youth Summit
November 14, 2023
“Whether it was twirling with my bestie during a photoshoot, sharing pizza with the It Gets Better staff, or creating the weirdest figures at the Funko Pop Factory, these moments were reminders that beyond our advocacy work, we are still individuals who deserve to laugh and have fun just as much as everyone else.” – PhiContinue reading “What We Learned: 2023 Youth Summit”
Do you believe LGBTQ+ youth deserve better?
November 13, 2023
By Jimmy Ancheta-Tilley, Jr. – Director of Development As the Director of Development at the It Gets Better Project, I see LGBTQ+ youth carving out their own space and claiming the respect they rightly deserve. I’m always in awe of their bravery and determination. As they grow up in a world that wants to snuffContinue reading “Do you believe LGBTQ+ youth deserve better?”
IT GETS BETTER JOINS 350+ LGBTQ+, CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS, AND NOTABLE PUBLIC FIGURES IN DEMANDING REMOVAL OF OKLAHOMA SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION RYAN WALTERS, AND D.O.E. INVESTIGATION
November 1, 2023
Today, It Gets Better joins more than 350 national, state, and local organizations advocating for equality across the U.S., alongside notable public figures, issued an open letter to Oklahoma legislative leadership urging justice for Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old 2STGNC+ (Two Spirit, transgender, and gender nonconforming+) student of Choctaw heritage who died following an attack in a restroom at Owasso High School in Oklahoma earlier this month.
Highlights From Our Second Annual Youth Summit
What happened when we brought queer youth together from around the world was nothing short of MAGICAL! ✨🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 These are some of our amazing Youth Voices, LGBTQ+ people aged 13-18 from across the US who are already amazing activists, advocates, artists, writers, speakers, musicians, and more (and yes, we open applications for a new classContinue reading “Highlights From Our Second Annual Youth Summit”
Honoring Yourself When You Can’t Be Out at Home
October 10, 2023
By Sarah Dean Often as queer people, we talk about the idea of Pride. Pride in who we are without shame inshowing that to the world. But it would be naïve to think that it is always safe or comfortable to be your complete self. The unfortunate reality is that many places and situations canContinue reading “Honoring Yourself When You Can’t Be Out at Home”
Dive Into LGBT History Month
October 6, 2023
It’s LGBT History Month, which means it’s a perfect time for us all to learn a little something or two. Take a deep dive into LGBT History with us and learn some little known facts about our community. Pronouns: “They” strictly referred to groups of people until the 1300’s, when it began to take onContinue reading “Dive Into LGBT History Month”
Welcome Our Newest Board Member
October 4, 2023
The It Gets Better Project is proud and honored to introduce you to the newest member of our Board of Directors — Moe Ari Brown, LMFT (they/he). Moe Ari is a leading mental health expert in Gender Identity. They have worked as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and families andContinue reading “Welcome Our Newest Board Member”
Making Things Better in LatAm: It Gets Better at ILGA LAC’s Regional Conference in Bolivia!
October 1, 2023
By Alex Orué, Global Programming Assistant Manager, It Gets Better Project. Last year we were the lucky co-host of ILGA World’s 2022 Global Conference in Long Beach, CA. After more than two years of planning, we finally were able to receive more than 700 LGBTQ+ activists from each continent for a week-long gathering with socialContinue reading “Making Things Better in LatAm: It Gets Better at ILGA LAC’s Regional Conference in Bolivia!”
Hispanic&…
September 20, 2023
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and Carmen Carrera, Henry Jimenz and more star in our Hispanic& series.
Changing Schools, One Student at a Time
September 8, 2023
We’re celebrating our 2022-2023 grantees, whose projects are changing the world for LGBTQ+ students.
Your Back to School Advice
September 1, 2023
We asked: what advice would you give LGBTQ+ students going back to school? You all ANSWERED, and it was INCREDIBLE