Dear John —

I’m Olivia (she/her), Senior Manager of Communications, Social Media with It Gets Better. As we kick off Give OUT Day, the year’s national giving day for LGBTQ+ non-profits, I wanted to share a bit about my story and why I think supporting It Gets Better is critical to the future of LGBTQ+ youth. 

Growing up, you could call me a case of “comp het,” or compulsory heterosexuality. I assumed I was straight, because what else was there to be? I knew no other LGBTQ+ people and saw no queer representation on TV. The internet was mainly used for running home after school to hop on AIM and chat with friends, and I only heard “gay” and “lesbian” thrown around as insults in the hallways. 

So I pushed any attraction I had toward women away.  It wasn’t until college when I met out and open queer people and learned about gender and sexuality as spectrums, that I realized there might be another option for me.

Now through the end of June, every dollar you donate up to $50K will be matched by our friends at e.l.f. Cosmetics. John can we count on you to make a donation in support of LGBTQ+ youth today???

I have no regrets about my journey, but I sometimes wonder what things would have been like if I’d had more LGBTQ+ representation and education growing up. Would I have realized sooner, come out earlier? 

That’s why I’m proud to be a part of It Gets Better, an organization with such a strong presence in the digital space. Every day my work involves reaching youth directly in spaces where they already are — on platforms like TikTok, Twitch, Instagram, and Tumblr — to provide the representation and resources I wish I’d had.

As Give OUT Day ushers in Pride Month, it’s not lost on me just how important our Digital Pride footprint is. Every June, we create a safe, online space for youth to connect, celebrate themselves, and feel part of a community — no matter where they are and no matter what their current circumstance may be.

I don’t think I was even aware of the concept of Pride growing up. But just a few years ago, my tiny hometown by the bay started flying Progress Pride flags down the main street every June. As I walk the street holding hands with my partner, I know organizations like It Gets Better and the youth activists we support through our work have been part of that change.

On Give OUT Day, consider making a donation to It Gets Better so we can reach even more LGBTQ+ youth to show them that their experiences matter, that what they’re feeling is valid, and that they have a whole community out there ready to embrace them for exactly who they are.

And remember, when you donate today, every dollar raised up to $50K is matched by e.l.f. Cosmetics. Your support can make a world of difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth.

Olivia Laura (she/her)
Senior Manager of Communications, Social Media
It Gets Better

The It Gets Better Project is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

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