John,

In September 2020, the It Gets Better Project turns 10 years old! In less than a decade, more than 70,000 It Gets Better stories have been collected and shared both on- and offline, giving rise to what has become the world’s largest storytelling effort to empower LGBTQ+ youth! Our message of hope has circled the globe, inspiring the formation of the It Gets Better Global Affiliate Network, which now spans four continents with storytelling initiatives in six major languages. And, our educational programming now reaches thousands of educators and students every year. Wow!

Although we are proud of this moment, it is tempered by a handful of stark realities. LGBTQ+ young people continue to be the target of physical and emotional bullying, are more likely to experience homelessness, and are 3X more likely to consider suicide as a viable escape from a life shadowed by isolation, fear, rejection, depression, and other mental illnesses. It’s an unacceptable reality, one that will continue to drive the It Gets Better Project to do more – until all LGBTQ+ young people are free to live equally and know their worthiness and power as individuals.

So, we will not be honoring our 10-year milestone through parties and revelry. We’re going to do it by investing — more than we ever had the opportunity to do so before — in the programming we know has the ability to uplift, empower, and connect the next generation of LGBTQ+ people. Get ready, because 2020 is going to be jam packed with incredible storytelling initiatives, global community building efforts, educational programming, and more opportunities for LGBTQ+ young people to connect with their peers in meaningful and productive ways.

Your support has gotten us so far, and for that we are beyond thankful. But there is still so much more to do.

Please join us for what promises to be a groundbreaking year for the It Gets Better Project, because we are so much better together!  

Brian Wenke
Executive Director
It Gets Better Project