“I knew tumblr was a positive environment for kids like me, and I thought it would be helpful to some people to hear my story. After all the really bad stuff thats been happening in the transgender community, I think we needed a little positivity. I hope that [trans kids] really understand the message of ‘don’t give up’ that I was trying to get across…” Read the full article at BuzzFeed … [Read more...]

“To Leelah and my fellow trans youth who have to and had to deal with abusive and or unsupportive family: I won't tell you that it gets better, because I would be lying. Things do change, however – as time goes on, you have more opportunities to make a supporting family, to transition, to build a community. The self-hate that we're taught doesn't just go away, but as you go through life and actively fight back against those voices, they occur less frequently. Leelah, I'm sorry that you didn't and will never get the chance to watch things … [Read more...]

No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities. Visit glsen.org/nonamecallingweek for classroom activities, register for updates, and MORE! … [Read more...]

“For 40 days every holiday season forty open letters about love and acceptance are posted to yourholidaymom.com. A project started in 2012, Your Holiday Mom provides a virtual haven for LGBT youth...The letters, which have branched out from “Mom” to include “Dad,” “Sibling,” and “Friend” are all addressed to the “Holiday Child” and detail what a typical holiday would be like in their home and provide some heartfelt words of encouragement.” Read the full article at GOOD Magazine … [Read more...]

“The 10th annual Youth Empowerment Summit (YES), hosted by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network of California and planned and led by youth, drew high school and middle school students from across the state for a day of skills-building workshops, youth-led discussion groups, and a resource fair, followed by a youth-only dance hosted by LYRIC and Project More.” Read the full article at The GSA Network … [Read more...]