It's not every day someone inspires a global movement. But 14 years ago yesterday, two gay men did just that.
The media had been covering a series of teens who died by suicide after being bullied for their sexual orientation or perceived orientation, and Dan Savage and his husband, Terry Miller, felt compelled to act. With the help of YouTube, they shared a message of hope with LGBTQ+ young people, anchored by three simple words they felt had the power to save lives: "It gets better."
Tens of thousands of videos soon followed. Celebrities and political leaders like Adam Lambert, Gabrielle Union, Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama joined everyday people in the movement. We all wanted these kids to know that middle and high school experiences are just moments in time — and though that feeling of loneliness may seem endless, it will pass, you will find your people and life will get better.
Fourteen years later, It Gets Better has grown into a global nonprofit that works proactively to reach LGBTQ+ youth before they're in crisis, driven by a mission to uplift, empower and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe. We engage with young people early to help build their self-worth, providing them with the tools and resources they need as they discover who they are and how they want to navigate the world.
It is a lifeline I could have used as a kid. Today, I'm the senior director of communications and PR for It Gets Better, and I'm surrounded by a supportive community in Palm Springs. But middle school me couldn't see that future. I could only see the days and weeks in front of me, and they looked lonely and dark. I'm fortunate that in high school, I found community through theater, and there, I found my voice. But not every kid has that — and that's the belonging we're trying to offer all LGBTQ+ youth with It Gets Better.
Much has improved for our community in the last 14 years — the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," federal employment discrimination protections and marriage equality, to name a few. But 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.
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.
It's why we've launched initiatives like 50 States. 50 Grants. 5000 Voices. Since 2022, we've awarded nearly $1.5 million and 142 grants to middle and high schools across the United States and Canada. By providing future LGBTQ+ leaders with the means to create communities where they can thrive, we've supported proms, inclusive libraries, school GSAs, educator toolkits and more.
With our latest grant cycle, announced last week, we're supporting a project in the Coachella Valley — the Rainbow Youth Summit, which will bring together 200+ LGBTQ+ students from four school districts across the region for educational sessions, entertainment, networking with their peers and more.
Grassroots efforts like this are critically important. When LGBTQ+ youth have a real-life connection to community, they see significant improvements in mental health, school performance and more. Safe Schools Desert Cities understands that — and we're here to help the kids they serve continue to flourish.
That inside-out approach is what we aim to do with all of our work. Youth Voices, another It Gets Better program, is a group of middle and high school ambassadors creating meaningful change for other LGBTQ+ youth. Through youth development, mentorship and leadership training, we're helping them make a difference.
And our storytelling efforts are still going strong — on social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Twitch, where we are the number one LGBTQ+ youth nonprofit. Through itgetsbetter.org, in blogs, and in books … we're reaching LGBTQ+ youth wherever learning takes place.
We don't have the power to wave a magic wand and make things easy for LGBTQ+ youth. Being queer and young in America today comes with its fair share of challenges. But if they can access community, resources and support early in their journey, they can find their voice — and they can continue the fight until it gets better for all of us.
For more about our work or to join our efforts, visit itgetsbetter.org .
Ross von Metzke is the senior director of communications and PR for It Gets Better.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: It Gets Better imagines a better world for LGBTQ+ youth
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