Despite years of hard-won progress, LGBTQ+ young people’s experience in school continues to be marked by harassment, discrimination, and stigma.

I’m concerned that attacks against young people will continue to escalate—because I’ve seen it before. I grew up Black and queer in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, and it’s heartbreaking to now see the revival and expansion of so many of the discriminatory attacks I faced decades ago.

It’s time for our community to reflect on this history—to remember the pain and frustration we endured to find our voices decades ago—and channel that into active support for the next generation.

I hope you’ve seen the updates about our ambitious new campaign: Rise Up for LGBTQ+ Youth! Our goal to show 2 million displays of public support is groundbreaking for GLSEN and will serve as a powerful reminder to LGBTQ+ youth they are not alone.

But we can’t do it without you. Please consider a gift today to help expand messages of support to classrooms and communities across the country. Rise Up! with a donation that will build a safe, vibrant future for all.

We have some tough fights ahead, but our community is powerful and resilient. We’re taking our anger, our lessons learned and our hope, and using them to fight harder than ever this 2023. 

Together, we’re building our collective power and Rising Up for LGBTQ+ students.

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers
Executive Director
Pronouns: she, her, hers/they, them, theirs

GLSEN believes that every student has the right to a safe and inclusive K-12 education.

We are a national network working to make this right a reality.

GLSEN Inc.
110 William Street
30th Floor
New York, NY 10038
United States

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