It Gets Better’s Post

A letter from It Gets Better's Executive Director, Brian Wenke! As of this month, over $1.8 billion has been raised for this year’s presidential candidates. To put it into perspective, that’s more than the value of the Mona Lisa. Let that sink in for a moment — and remember, most of this cash comes from smaller donations, given the legal caps on campaign contributions. As the leader of a grassroots organization, I dream of the potential impact organizations like mine could make with just a slice of that pie. But here's the kicker: when elections roll around, wallets tighten up. It's like we're all holding our breath, waiting to see where the chips will fall. Nonprofits like It Gets Better have to be flexible. We must ride out economic downturns, natural disasters, wars, and other critically serious moments that demand immediate attention. But we are tough, and we know there is plenty to go around. The issues that It Gets Better and so many other organizations fight for don’t just vanish during election season. We’ve navigated the terms of three U.S. Presidents and have seen amazing wins (and a few gut-wrenching losses) for the LGBTQ+ community. Trust me, red or blue, the emotional rollercoaster that all youth go through as they grow up and head into adulthood happens no matter who is in the White House. Of course, we want politicians who support our kids, but queer youth will always need the support of their community. We grow up fast, and LGBTQ+ youth today still face the same challenges as those from older generations: coming of age, finding their identity, discovering their place in the world – all while battling hate, stigma, misinformation, and that all-too-real feeling of being alone because they don’t fit the mold. Yet we know the power all LGBTQ+ youth have within – and we love bringing it out of them! It Gets Better is, and always will be, a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ youth. With programming reaching more than 700,000 youth around the world, we will continue to be a steadfast champion for every young LGBTQ+ person trying to connect with their potential, but we need your support to do it. This fight is every bit as important today as it was 14 years ago, and we need you to stay the course with us. Make a donation to It Gets Better and help us build a brighter future for LGBTQ+ youth! #itgetsbetter #lgbtq #lgbtqyouth #queeryouth #fundraising #education #philanthropy #nonprofit #youthdevelopment #leadership SUPPORT IT GETS BETTER: https://lnkd.in/gfzwwA9K pictured: It Gets Better's 2023-2024 class of Youth Voices.

Protections for LGBTQ+ youth are on the line this election season, but many queer and trans youth aren't eligible or old enough to vote. That's where you come in. Our Youth Voices are asking you to vote on their behalf, and to help you proudly declare your support, Marlin (16, he/him) has illustrated the best "I Voted" stickers ever! Now through the end of the month, donate $15 or more to It Gets Better and receive this custom set of "I voted" stickers as our thanks to you. You get youth-designed stickers, we get support for our queer youth programs. That's what we call a win win! #election #voting #transyouth #queeryouth #ivoted #itgetsbetter #lgbtq #philanthropy #nonprofit LINK: https://lnkd.in/gYXkurjw

It's National Coming Out Day! 🌈 💚💜 Coming out can be an amazing experience...but it can also cause a lot of anxiety. So today we're celebrating with a new series called Dear Queer Chameleon in which we're answering some of your burning questions. First up, one that many of us have had at some point in our journeys: There are so many different labels...How do I figure out who I am?! Dear Queer Chameleon isn’t just for LGBTQ+ youth—it’s also a great resource for parents, allies, and anyone who wants to better understand the journey. Whether you’re figuring things out yourself or supporting someone you love, we hope these conversations can help! If you like the series,  let us know👇 —we hope to make this a regular thing and answer more of your questions in the future! PS. Spanish-speaking friends... Dear Queer Chameleon is also available in Spanish on It Gets Better Español's IG - https://lnkd.in/gesh7WiP #itgetsbetter #lgbtqyouth #queer #queeryouth #queerchameleon #advice #animation #nationalcomingoutday #comingout

If you can vote, vote for LGBTQ+ youth, because many of them are not old enough to vote. As Jeremy from It Gets Better explained at our annual Global Summit last week, "vote so it gets better for our future. Vote so it gets better for all of us." #itgetsbetter #vote #voting #election #globalsummit

If you play Warhammer we've got good news - we're one of the charities benefitting from Humble Bundle's new Have A Warhammer Day game bundle! Get it here, support LGBTQ+ youth.

"The problem is right now, our kids in the national discourse are seeing directly that they are not valued." This school in Gypsum, Colorado is setting out to change that. Through one of our 50 States, 50 Grants, the school's GSA club is planning on establishing LGBTQ+ sensitivity training for teachers, creating opportunities for students to use already-existing gender-neutral bathrooms in the school, and hosting a "queer prom!" Thanks CBS Colorado for the highlight on this amazing project:

🎂🍰 From the first It Gets Better video, to RAINBOW Doritos (yup, they were a thing), to MTV, to President Obama's It Gets Better video and more - help us celebrate our 14th year of uplifting, empowering, and connecting LGBTQ+ youth by reading through some of our fave It Gets Better moments in the news! Do you remember any of these? If It Gets Better has meant something to you over the last 14 years, consider making a donation or letting us know in the comments. FOURTEEN YEARS OF IT GETS BETTER: https://lnkd.in/g-DPJjZ3 #itgetsbetter #queeryouth #birthday #lgbtqia #lgbtqnews #queeryouth #nonprofit #viralvideo #equalrights #mentorship #youthempowerment

"The world doesn't always welcome LGBTQ+ people with open arms. A very loud anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and an avalanche of proposed legislation seek to undo those victories and drown out the progress our community has made. Scary stuff. Now imagine having to process that when you're 14. But our community and our allies have the power to be just as loud, to make sure LGBTQ+ youth understand how far we've come and how much progress we can still make — together. At It Gets Better, we are working with the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders, supporting their ability to advocate for their peers today." Today in Desert Sun Media Group on the eve of It Gets Better's 14th birthday. #itgetsbetter #lgbtq #grants #schoolgrants #lgbtqyouth #queeryouth #education

🌍✨ Get Ready for the 2024 Global Summit! 🌈✨ Join us for two incredible days of empowerment and connection, celebrating LGBTQ+ youth from around the globe! Streaming live on Twitch on September 24th and 25th beginning at 10am PT, the summit will highlight the work happening all over the world to make things better for LGBTQ+ youth plus... gaming segments, inspiring talks, and activists doing the work for LGBTQ+ equality on the global stage. And did we mention this summit is presented in English AND Spanish? Check the link below to see what we have planned for you. GLOBAL SUMMIT SCHEDULE: https://lnkd.in/gfJCpGBu #itgetsbetter #globalsummit #lgbtqrights #equality #lgbtqyouth #twitch

It's #BiAwarenessWeek so can we all agree to be AWARE that this is silly and bi people are valid just the way we are? Ok good! 💖💜💙 #itgetsbetter #bi #bipride #bisexual #bimemes #bisexuality #biweek