John,

Eleven years ago, when I came out of the closet in Colombia, access to information and LGBTQ+ resources was really limited. Storytelling about issues like gender diversity and sexual orientation wasn’t nearly as visible as it is today.

In 2014, I was living in Spain. My girlfriend (now wife) proposed to me and we decided to go back home, to Bogotá — not only to get married but to accomplish my mission: To start a project benefitting the LGBTQ+ community. A project that mattered and that made a difference.

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I moved home and started volunteering with a non-profit group that works toward the recognition of rights for LGBTQ+ people in Colombia. But I knew I was ready to become a change agent and do something bigger and more impactful. A friend of mine introduced me to the It Gets Better Project. I started watching the videos and instantly felt a connection to all of these stories. I knew they had the power to help people at a really critical moment for Colombia.

I decided to found a global affiliate of the It Gets Better Project, and we’ve been running and growing for more than four years. We’ve impacted thousands of people through diverse stories for and from Colombians. We’ve executed workshops that have taught hundreds of individuals about the importance of inclusion and diversity, and we’ve developed an online community that works every single day to spread our mission. Through my work with It Gets Better: Colombia, I have found my passion — work that truly touches my heart and serves as a tool to show that things can and are getting better.

Please consider supporting the It Gets Better Project and all of its global efforts this holiday season. We’re pouring a ton of love and support into our work, and we want to ensure it’s around to benefit generations to come.

Daniela Villegas García (pictured left)
Co-Founder & Executive Director
It Gets Better Colombia