Dear John -

The It Gets Better Project knows how to highlight the joy of the LGBTQ+ experience. Our number one priority is to leverage this skill to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the world. But, there are times when joy is overshadowed by the harsh realities of our world.

Earlier this week, we released a statement and added our name to an important open letter addressing the ongoing violence and persecution of the Black community, but there is so much more to be done. So much more.

The conversations and protests taking place at this moment under the banner of #BlackLivesMatter mark what we hope will  be a pivotal moment in our history. It is time to revise the systems designed to discriminate against and silence the voice of the Black community, which has played a vital role in the ongoing fight for equality.

This week, in lieu of our “Moments of Joy” blog, we bring you the special edition “Moments of Power,” a collection of stories and resources curated to honor the Black LGBTQ+ experience. These are words to uplift you, to empower you, and to connect you to a beautiful community of people who are championing a brighter future for all. 

If ever there was a time to come together, it is now. Our humanity depends on it. We have an obligation to the generations that follow that we will hand them a better world than the one we inherited — a world where all Black LGBTQ+ people are free to not just live equally, but thrive.  We have a long way to go, but together we can capture the spirit of this future in the stories we share with the world.

Thank you for all you do to keep hope alive for LGBTQ+ people everywhere.

- The It Gets Better Project
 

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.

If you are looking for resources or support, please visit our resource center.