With more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in 36 states targeting LGBTQ+ youth introduced this year alone, it feels nearly impossible to keep up. Since we last reached out about the devastating “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Ohio and the potential revocation of Roe vs. Wade, Alabama’s trans youth care ban has gone into effect and Texas’ Supreme Court has allowed the state to investigate parents of transgender youth for child abuse.
As maddening as it is, we continue to be inspired by the amazing young people around the country who are standing up and speaking out. We’re particularly in awe of our Youth Voices ambassadors, who not only show up through their work with the It Gets Better Project but use their platform to advocate for change in their own schools and communities.
It’s easy to get dragged down by the news cycle. So please, take a moment to see some of the incredible ways these impressive LGBTQ+ young people are demanding the change they want to see in the world.
– Zach K. spoke with USA Today about the effect book bans have on LGBTQ+ students and then joined Zaya Wade and Jeopardy champ Amy Schneider for an Instagram Live conversation with Teen Vogue about the importance of uplifting LGBTQ+ youth in schools through inclusive education and grant opportunities like our own 50 States. 50 Grants.
– Uma F., who is studying abroad in Hong Kong, organized a protest outside of the US consulate against the leaked “Roe vs. Wade verdict that puts women, femmes, gender non-conforming people and trans men at immeasurable risk.”
– Elliot S. went to their first protest and spoke to an audience at SXSW with their mom about how anti-trans legislation in Texas directly affects them. They followed up that speech with… another protest!
– Ben B. wrote an article for their local newspaper in Pennsylvania about the anti-trans attacks happening in their community.
– Alejandro Isabella and Elliot S. spoke with Seventeen Magazine about pronouns, nonbinary identity and how showing basic respect for LGBTQ+ youth saves lives.
– Chloe L., Kiki P., and Zack K. were among the LGBTQ+ youth speakers earlier this month at the 2022 ILGA World conference, sharing their stories, experiences and how they want to be a part of the conversation around advocating for queer youth.
– Hailey T. and Elliot S. went live on Twitch for Trans Day of Visibility, sharing all about how they’re using their voices to fight back against anti LGBTQ+ legislation.
– Several of our Youth Voices shared on our blog how these anti LGBTQ+ bills were making them feel and what they’d say to lawmakers if given the chance.
And this is just a small sample of the many ways our Youth Voices are becoming the leaders of tomorrow before our very eyes — and they have no plans to slow down in fighting for a better world. Click here to stay up to date on what the Youth Voices ambassadors are up to, and follow the It Gets Better Project on Instagram, TikTok and Twitch for fresh content daily.