Hi John,

Not all of us will be able to vote in the 2020 elections. I am 16. As a GLSEN National Student Council member, I’m doing so much to advocate for my LGBTQ+ peers at my school. But I won’t be able to cast a ballot.

If you are voting age, don’t doubt how powerful your vote is. The stakes are so high for me and my LGBTQ+ communities this year. Your vote has the power to make schools safer for me, LGBTQ+ youth of color, and trans and nonbinary students. Keep us in mind when you cast a vote this year.

Voters, make your voting plan today. Start by checking you are registered to vote and then sign up for reminders to vote.

If I could vote this year, I would think about my LGBTQ+ friends and what we go through every day. I’d use my power to vote to make sure school bathrooms and locker rooms are safe for trans and nonbinary students. And I would vote for candidates who support anti-bullying bills like passing the Safe Schools Improvement Act. I’d use my ballot to figure out who supports LGBTQ+ youth and plans to protect my rights.

Are you too young to vote this year? Commit to voting by scrolling down on this link to sign a pledge. You’ll even get reminders on your 18th birthday!

On top of keeping up with school, it’s up to student leaders like me to get my teachers, communities, and representatives to care about my rights as a LGBTQ+ student. I’m happy to be part of GLSEN’s amazing network of National Student Council members. We know that we are carrying 30 years of collective power and history.

So if you are getting ready to vote, I’m asking you to vote with me and my National Student Council members in mind!

Aryn Bucci-Mooney
GLSEN National Student Council member
(he, him, hims)