Blog Post
Queer Youth at SXSW EDU 2025
“For me, SXSW EDU was a game-changer. I needed a platform to share my story, and thanks to It Gets Better, I had the chance to speak on a national stage. It’s an opportunity I’ll forever be grateful for—one that has given me the confidence to continue to advocate for my community in ways I never thought possible.” – Jeremy, It Gets Better Youth Voice – Class of 2025
Earlier this month, we had the opportunity to host an incredibly timely workshop, “How to Support LGBTQ+ Youth During Challenging Times” at SXSW EDU 2025. This session brought together an audience of roughly forty K-12 educators, school board members, school administrators, and other adult allies from across the country. Led by our Senior Manager of Education, Raelee Sweet, and two of our amazing Youth Voices, Mia and Jeremy, the workshop offered valuable insights on how educators can best support LGBTQ+ students in today’s world.
In this engaging session, Mia and Jeremy shared their personal journeys of being out as LGBTQ+ in high school, touching on the challenges they faced, how their schools either supported or failed them, and what they wish educators had done differently. They also introduced some vital resources, like the Changemakers grant application, which funded a Queer Homecoming for a nonprofit Jeremy was working with in their hometown, as well as, It Gets Better’s EduGuides, and imi, a digital mental health tool.
The workshop wasn’t just about teaching—it was about inspiring real change for our Youth Voices. Jeremy and Mia reflected on how it felt to speak to such a large audience and how the potential impact of reaching thousands of students was both exciting and humbling. Here’s what they had to say about their experience:
How did it feel to host a workshop at SXSW EDU?
Jeremy: “I applied to become a Youth Voice for It Gets Better because I wanted to have the national platform to share my stories and advocate for my community, so I was so incredibly excited to have the opportunity to speak at SXSW EDU. When I first arrived, I was nervous to speak to educators from around the country, but being with Mia, my fellow Youth Voice, and Raelee made me feel confident enough to host the workshop.”
SXSW EDU was by far one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever participated in my activist career!
Mia: “SXSW EDU was by far one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever participated in my activist career! Through our workshop “How to Support LGBTQ+ Youth During Challenging Times” I had the opportunity to speak to educators, school board officials, teachers, and more about how to be an ally to LGBTQ+ students. It filled me with so much love and hope seeing a room full of folks who truly cared about the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth! To my fellow Youth Voice member Jeremy, I couldn’t ask for a better partner and friend to do this workshop with!”
What happened after the workshop?
Jeremy: “Following the workshop, so many educators went up to me telling me how great the workshop was, and how great Mia and I were. I genuinely had so much fun, and I will definitely remember this experience for the rest of my life.”
Mia: “After we completed the workshop, I rushed off to attend a conversation with PBS and Mychal Threets, a nationally recognized librarian and advocate for community well-being. As they spoke about the impact of libraries in our community, I was reminded again of the significance of third spaces, especially during these difficult times when safe & accessible spaces are needed more than ever. I was also fortunate to listen to keynote speech “Screening Bias: Breaking Down Barriers for Women in STEM on TV” where astronaut, scientist, and TV host Emily Calandrell spoke about her experience of navigating gender bias in the STEM field.”
What final thoughts do you have about your experience?
Mia: “This experience has not just reminded but shown me the power that young people carry in our society, country, and world. By being surrounded in rooms upon rooms of allies, educators, and advocates who support and understand our identities (or are in the process of learning how), I have no doubt in my mind that the future of LGBTQ+ youth will not go down quietly and that the next generation will be ready for whatever lies ahead. In the words of Maya Angelou, ‘still, we rise.’”
