They wanted a quiet June. We gave them 135,000 hours of queer joy.

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Hey John,

Pride Month made headlines again this year, but not for the reasons we hoped. Instead of celebratory coverage, the narrative turned somber. Corporate partners pulled back. Funding thinned. And the future of Pride, as many young people know it, was suddenly in question.

But that’s not the full story.

News and social media painted a bleak picture, but on the ground, Pride powered on, and in a sense, returned to its origins.

LGBTQ+ people and their allies showed up. They made space. And they reminded queer youth across the country: you are not alone, and you are worth fighting for.

With your help, It Gets Better made sure Pride wasn’t just a moment—it was the movement it was always intended to be.

We returned to Twitch for the sixth annual It Gets Better: A Digital Pride Experience. More than 130 LGBTQ+ streamers raised over $40,000 for our life-affirming work, while building a digital home for queer joy and connection. Viewers tuned in for over 135,000 hours of content, from Roblox live streams and make-up tutorials to our Chosen Family event [[link removed]] with longtime partner e.l.f. Cosmetics.

These dollars directly support programs like Youth Voices [[link removed]] and It Gets Better: Changemakers [[link removed]], giving young LGBTQ+ leaders the tools, funding, and platform to make life better for their peers and their communities.

On the ground, our Pride Street Teams—powered by Youth Voices ambassadors, past It Gets Better grantees, and rising leaders— marched and celebrated [[link removed]] from New Jersey to California. They brought joy and resistance to the streets, reminding us all that a better world is possible and within reach.

This work doesn’t begin or end in June. Pride is not seasonal. It is year-round and community-powered. And it is only possible because of people like you.

Thank you for standing with us.

Thank you for believing in LGBTQ+ youth.

Thank you for making Pride 2025 a celebration of visibility, resilience, and joy.

We’re not going anywhere. And neither is Pride.

Happy Pride 365!

It Gets Better

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It Gets Better 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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