PRIDE+

and ya'll could, too. using our Changemakers grants...

...youth leaders in Delaware recognized that while school staff wanted to be supportive, they lacked the how. rather than wait, students developed Proud Schools, their student-led curriculum that has now equipped thousands of educators across the state with inclusive language and best practices to better support students. peep student leader Shelby presenting their work to congresswoman Sarah McBride:

in Wisconsin, our grantees are ensuring that the legacy of resistance and celebration central to ballroom and drag culture is taught to LGBTQ+ youth, particularly underserved youth of color, through the Successor Ballroom/Drag Show with the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center!

youth leader Bishop said, "Receiving this grant isn’t just funding for a project… it means we have the power and resources to turn our ideas into impact, to create lasting change, and to show that youth leadership is not only possible, it’s essential."

and in North Dakota, when a challenging legislative year threatened to silence LGBTQ+ students, they didn’t stay quiet. they launched Stirring up Change, a community coffeehouse where LGBTQ+ youth and the broader community can speak up and fight back:

happy trans day of visibility! 🏳️‍⚧️

Happy Trans Day of Visibility 💖💙

We’re celebrating with a special collection highlighting the works of independent trans artists across the world, celebrating trans identity, resilience, and visibility!

🏳️‍⚧️ TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY 🏳️‍⚧️

last month, our Changemakers grantee in Missouri, Amplify the Arch, pulled off something huge: a leadership conference that brought together more than 200 LGBTQ+ youth from the St. Louis area. young people built advocacy skills, connected with peers, helped their parents learn, and had fun while doing it.

president Phi, 19, said, "Events like this seem so rare in the Midwest. People in marginalized communities usually have to go to the coasts for events or environments like this. It is quite beautiful that in St. Louis City, Missouri we are starting a tradition that brings queer people together in a loving and accepting way without fear. For every queer kid who's ever felt erased or invisible, Amplify the Arch says: you deserve more than survival. You deserve joy. You deserve connection. And you deserve a future."

and they’re not the only ones building conferences and summits for LGBTQ+ youth:

in Wisconsin, we funded the GSA Student Leadership Summit two years in a row (and year two happened because students demanded it):

in Maryland, youth hosted a hybrid conference for over 400 attendees, leading to collaboration between youth and educators on how to make schools more inclusive for everyone:

and in Washington, an entire school district came together for their Community and Culture Conference:

these aren’t just “events.” they’re spaces where LGBTQ+ young people can learn from each other, experience joy, and leave with resources and community that actually stick, which matters more than EVERRR right now.

second question: what if you could get a grant to actually help fund your project and make it a reality?

well we gotchu!

since 2022, we've awarded $1.6 million in funding to 170 youth-led projects across the U.S., including things like gender-affirming clothing closets, regional LGBTQ+ youth conferences, student wellness programs and safe spaces, and inclusive arts and education projects.

and yup, we're doing it again.

with It Gets Better: Changemakers, we want to help you create a lasting impact at your school, your library, your local LGBTQ+ center, or wherever it’s needed most in your own local community.

maybe a community service project? hosting a Queer Homecoming? painting a downtown Pride mural? let's dooo it!

you can apply now for a grant through May 3, 2026 at itgetsbetter.org/changemakers.

Trying a new thing - we want to use asks as a space for you to share your own "it gets better" story to inspire queer and trans youth - if you're LGBTQIA+, how did things "get better" for you; or how exactly have you defined what "better" even means? Could be little, could be big!

Or, you can just drop a positive message you'd like to share with LGBTQ+ youth.

We sometimes re-share your lovely stories and messages here or on other platforms, so using asks gives you the option to remain anon. :)

It's Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week so we cooked up a lil treat for you from @asexual-goddessss aka Kim Riot! 💚🤍🩶🖤

Kim says, "Happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (ASAW)! I’m Kim, I’ve worked with AUREA for years now to help inform people about the Aromantic Identities. I identify as Aromantic (Aroflux) on the Aro side. 

In terms of my comic Willow & the Family Ace, this specific comic follows the main character Willow, a 23 year old Necromancer who is Aromantic and Lesbian, and her sister Shay who is a ghost. 

My other characters flow along the Aro spectrum as well (Lithromantic, Grayromantic, Quoiromantic, Cupioromantic, etc.), though they are mostly AroAce. Willow and Michelle are kind of special in that sense being that they’re the only strictly Aromantic characters so far in the series.

Fun fact, I titled it Willow & the Family Ace after Sly & the Family Stone, but unknowingly I created this rift between Willow & all the other AroAce characters, and I think it dives deeper than even that storywise in how she chooses to separate herself because of her line of work."

Kim's site is here if you want to follow along with this lovely comic!