IT GETS BETTER

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ We’re the org with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe! Website | Get Help | TikTok | Twitch | Youtube | Instagram Shop Queer Merch | Linktree

[itgetsbetter]

hi there, we're It Gets Better 🌈

our nonprofit mission: to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe. we envision a world where all LGBTQ+ youth are free to live equally, connect to their communities, and know their power as individuals.

our site: itgetsbetter.org

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imi - our free mental health tool made with and for LGBTQ+ youth (no sign-ups or downloads, and there's a safe exit button)

a database of LGBTQ+ resources and crisis hotlines

artist? add yourself to our artist database for potential collabs/commissions

streamer? apply to work with us here

Asks temporarily closed while we catch up after Queer Week of Rest! We use asks as a space for you to share your own "it gets better" story, or drop a positive message you'd like to share with LGBTQ+ youth (we sometimes re-share your lovely stories and messages, so we use asks so that you have the option to remain anon). remember to keep these SFW and appropriate for LGBTQ+ youth!

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Keep reading for more cool queer stuff:

We got our start over 15 years ago telling classic "it gets better" stories and sharing advice for LGBTQ+ youth on Youtube. But here's some cool stuff we did last year:

Granted $1.6 million since 2022, funding 172 youth-led Changemakers projects in 48 states, Washington D.C., and 9 Canadian provinces, with 28 new projects this year. 

Reached 205,000 people since 2022 with our digital mental health resource imi, including 35,000 new users in 2025. 

130 LGBTQ+ streamers were live for 350 hours as part of It Gets Better: A Digital Pride Experience on Twitch 

Our annual Global Summit attracted participants from 13 different countries.

And 18 LGBTQ+ authors rallied supporters and book lovers for our inaugural Summer Reading Challenge

feels like just scratching the surface, tbh!

we're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and rely on support from followers like y'all - here's where to donate: itgetsbetter.org/donate. There's even a recurring option that starts at just $10/month! And we've got queer merch, too - proceeds benefit our work, of course.

if you're not able to donate, reblogs and shares of our posts and work to spread the word is always a big help!

[itgetsbetter]

I'm a baby gay, only started seriously questioning September of last year and accepted my sexuality (bi) sometime in December. This is my first Pride Month! I told my group of close friends when I was questioning and they were super supportive during that time. Also came out to group of 14 online recently and everyone was really nice about it :) Not to parents yet but I'm working on it... so yeah, I think people are often kinder than we take them to be and it's been the best 9 monthes of my life since I've started questioning, feels like I finally has the opportunity to enjoy a side of myself I've been so blind to. Pride is amazing <3

big gay welcome to you, so glad you can feel free to explore this part of yourself!

[itgetsbetter]

I forgot that I was wearing my name tag (wich has my pride flag on it) when I went into my job interview. My boss complimented it then proceeded to hire me that same day. The job had its ups and downs, but as far as college jobs go I don’t think I could ask for anything better.

congrats on the hire (and the supportive work environment)!

[itgetsbetter]

My Dad made me come out to my Mom, I had a whole speech planned but instead I sat on her bedroom carpet and cried until I was gasping, I could hardly make out "I'm gay" between the nausea and the sobbing. She was raised Italian Catholic and I was afraid she was going to send me away.

Now, I tell her to find me a girlfriend because she did such a good job for one of my older brothers. She asks questions about wedding ceremonies if there's two brides and has never once pressured me into finding men attractive whatsoever. She still doesn't completely understand or support all of the LGBTQ+ but, she didn't send me away and she never treated me any differently after she found out. The rest we can work on together.

the way this turned around :') happy for you (and the gf search!!)

[itgetsbetter]

I'm asexual, and I'm 10 years into a loving marriage! I'm never pressured into doing anything I don't want to do, and I'm loved Exactly the way I Want to be loved. My family knows, my friends know, and I'm so delighted to have what younger-me thought was impossible. Happy pride everybody!!

so happy you have this kind of supportive relationship! <3

[itgetsbetter]

I’m fortunate enough for my family and friends to all be supportive, especially with a confusing identity, but I wanna spread some positivity. Get that hrt monarchs, use your beautiful pronouns, and go crazy with your gender expression!

so glad you have that support 🦋🦋🦋

[itgetsbetter]

I was absolutely terrified of my parents finding out how strange my gender and sexuality is, so badly that I almost had a panic attack when they found my pronouns.cc, but the worst that ended up happening was my father being confused on my identities!

just a lil learning moment! happy for you!

[itgetsbetter]

this story has a good ending, but I feel like it's important to share in case anyone is struggling with a similar scenario:

for a very long time, I struggled quietly with moral OCD & sexuality OCD. I was afraid of being queer -- mostly because my religion is very homophobic (with some notable exceptions). I thought I would go to hell if I acted on being gay/get expelled from my HS, so I never sought the help I desperately needed until I started getting into a relationship with my ex GF. Thankfully my therapist was very understanding and helpful, and my family and friends are completely supportive as well, too.

To anyone who is in the closet: please, please seek out help if you feel that you are going to be condemned to hell (or otherwise) for being gay -- especially if you are having thoughts about harming yourself so you don't act on the "gayness".

I got the help I needed and, let me tell you: it does get better. More than I could've ever dreamed. My religious parents have encouraged me to try to find an LGBTQ+ support group in our community so that I feel less alone.

There are people out there who will love you regardless of your sexual or gender identity -- even if they are not your blood-relatives. They will love you and everything you stand for; they will love everything that you encompass, they will love everything that falls under the category of "you".

I know this is very rare and I'm very fortunate, but things got better for me after I came out of the closet. If you're in a position to, I highly recommend coming out to at least one person.

But things do get better, guys. Slowly, maybe infinitesimally, but they do get better. 🏳️‍🌈❤️

so glad you had the resources to get the support you needed and are here to share this with us now!

[itgetsbetter]

I fell into a really dark pit qhen i was younger, mostly because my mom found out i was trans(she back wasnt supportive and thought trans people were either internally mysogynistic or predators), and it scared me to my core so bad i accepted i would just never transition and exist like this, but i've come a long way and though its still rocky, i'm alreadyy making plans for when i move out to instantly buy either a binder or binsing tape and begin slowly transitioning :D my mom is also more supportive and i think i'll be able to share this part of me to het again :]

so glad that it sounds like things are turning around, even if it feels slow right now!

[itgetsbetter]

I used amab instead of man to describe myself and that is progress i think. Less being scared about it 😇

little steps = big steps sometimes!

[assignedmale]

[itgetsbetter]

I came out to one of my parental figures (half way at least) today, and even though I expected him to not care (in a doesn’t matter to me - I still love you way) it was still such a relief when he accepted it and hugged me. It made everything feel a lot better and more real to me. 50/50 shot I come out to the one who I know is heavily conservative, but even if I do and it goes badly, I know I’ll have at least one person in my corner and that means a lot to me.

It was really scary to do though, even though I was pretty sure that he would be perfectly fine with it, I got so scared to do it that I was kind of shaking while I did it. I put it off with 2 other questions before I actually said anything. I had to ask a friend to tell me to do it, otherwise I was never going to. What this all boils down to though is that even if you’re sure it’ll be fine it’s scary, and that’s okay! You just have to work yourself through it and make sure you have a support system.

wow, more hugs for you!! very glad you got to experience that acceptance.

[itgetsbetter]

im worried it wont get better. i feel like i know who i am but i feel like i dont at the same time. i want to believe and be proud of liking women as well. i want to believe im bisexual but theres just so much getting in the way. ive been really close to God lately, ive got a big crush on this super sweet boy, i feel like it just isnt valid and im just so confused. can someone please try help?

You are valid! It's okay to feel confused - there's a reason the Q in LGBTQ+ stands for "questioning" as well as queer.

Remember that there's no "right" way to be bisexual, whether you have a crush on someone of a different gender or the same gender as yourself, being bisexual just describes who you are attracted to!

Here are a few people's different experiences with being bi and pan, maybe you could relate to some:

[itgetsbetter]

i know that you guys aren't the person i'm referring to here, and you don't have to post this if you don't want to, but i have to get this off my chest

i'm a bigender person in the UK, but unfortunately my parents are transphobic and its not exactly safe for me to be out of the closet. i've just finished my a-levels and i honestly think i wouldn't have been able to do it without my psychology teacher. from the first day of lessons she got everyone to write down their preferred name and pronouns, and i had the confidence to put my actual name instead of my deadname. it was the first time i was open to an adult, and she never once outed me to my parents or other teachers. i remember one time she accidentally misgendered me in lesson and she immediately caught herself and corrected herself instead of ignoring it. it just made me feel so seen and human for once. i'm now going to university in september and i've managed to find an accomodation to share with other trans/lgbtq people like me.

if my teacher is somehow reading this: thank you for everything you did. i really do think i wouldn't be here right now without everything you did. keep being the best teacher there is.

- LD

having even just one ally like this can make such a big difference!

our Youth Voice Jay actually just interviewed some educators about how they can support LGBTQ+ youth in their classrooms.

and our Youth Voice Nashan had a convo with other LGBTQ+ youth about bullying at school and what they wish teachers knew!

[itgetsbetter]

thank you for making this blog, it means a lot to me, seeing how things get better for others really lifts me up as a baby queer (agender aroace) in a kinda transphobic family

so glad to hear this <3

we've been a nonprofit sharing lgbtqia+ stories for over 16 years, check out our pinned post for a bunch more resources!

[itgetsbetter]

so back when I was a teenager, I was always worried my identity wasn’t valid, because one month I was ftm, the next I was non-binary, the next I was a Demiboy, the next I was genderfaun, the next I was agender, and then I was void gender and the list goes on as on.

I feel like when people do that, they think they’re alone. Because everyone who’s shown as queer on the internet from what I’ve seen has a stable identity and label for that identity.

So I just want to put my message out into the world; gender is complicated. It’s ok to shift with your understanding of yourself the more you change. I just want to put this out there for whoever needs to hear it :)

people change, grow, and learn more about themselves all the time!

we just posted something about this today, too.

[itgetsbetter]

When I first came out, it took a while for my friends to get used to it. But finally, theyre using my chosen name and pronouns without any thought. I once had one get confused for a second when someone called me my dead name.

that's great - it can take people a while to get used to a change, but it sounds like they're putting effort in to respect you and your identity!