Happy Pride John,

We're rallying middle & high schoolers nationwide to take action this month by filling out and sharing this school climate survey from our friends at GLSEN!

Our Act Out network of youth activists was formed for young people to take direct actions like walkouts, protests, and demonstrations to fight for equality, justice and liberation for LGBTQ youth. So I understand how that might make you ask, does taking a survey count as activism?

Here's why, in this case, we think it does:

• Organizing and putting on the pressure is just one part of why policy change happens. No debate about changing policy ever gets far without eye-opening statistics, real life stories, and widely-cited reports. All of those only happen when people actively take the surveys, answer the pollsters' calls, and share their truth.
   
• GLSEN's School Climate Survey is especially well-known, and policy makers have cited statistics and stories from it while fighting for LGBTQ-inclusive school policies for years! That's everyone from state legislators, to city council members, all the way to school principals and teachers themselves.

So let's make sure the latest survey is full of modern, accurate experiences of LGBTQ youth - from those suffering under strict laws and muzzled teachers, to those living in supportive districts who can show examples of how much better young LGBTQ lives could be if schools were allowed to support their queer and trans youth!

• If you did not attend middle or high school during the 2023-2024 school year, you can still take action by sharing this survey with others! In fact, we often find that many young people learn about our programs and actions from a trusted friend, teacher, or parent who sends it to them.

Fill out the survey here

Thank you so much for being a part of this movement,

Geoff Corey
Director of Campaigns & Rapid Response
Advocates for Youth