It Gets Better YK

Outreach program for queer and trans youth located in Yellowknife, NT (Canada)

[itgetsbetteryk]

It Gets Better Yellowknife is an organization that was created in 2011 to support queer and trans youth in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in Northern Canada.

We’re in a contest to win $12,000 to start a Rainbow Youth Resource Centre in Yellowknife, and we need your help! Please vote!

You can vote multiple times, but only once per device.

Please help support queer and trans youth in Yellowknife!

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It’s exciting! We have new, rebranded resources. Make sure you check out our new, full-feature website at itgetsbetteryk.org!

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How a Kid Knows They’re Trans Please do not repost without credit/tagging #igbyk or #itgetsbetteryk Facebook | Website

Sometimes, children who are trans get accused of not being able to "know yet". That's not fair. Children have incredible understanding of gender and their own identity as little people in the world. We're being a little silly here, but the sentiment remains true. Allow children autonomy to define themselves, and if you have any questions about how to support your trans child, contact us or post a question in the forums on our website.

[itgetsbetteryk]

People often spend Transgender Day of Remembrance reflecting on the hundreds and thousands of trans lives lost each year.

We suggest something additional. Let’s stop and ask ourselves how we can support trans people in Yellowknife so that no more lives are lost.

If you’re able to help IGBYK organize a Transgender Day of Remembrance event, please contact us at itgetsbetteryk @ gmail.com.

[itgetsbetteryk]

We Wanna Know If You're Interested!

We're looking to start up a monthly hang out space for queer youth and their allies in Yellowknife (up to the age 19), but we're worried about recruiting sponsors and partners and then not having anybody show up!

If you are in support of this concept, having monthly queer spaces for youth to hang out (and have fun) at, let us know so we can let possible partners know!

These spaces would most likely include some/all of the following:

food (pizza is delicious)

a queer adult or two to share some stories

movies

music

games

laughs

information

other queer youth

prizes (!!!!)

Let us know if you're interested by either sending us a private e-mail, FB message or note on our website, or by commenting openly on any of our social media!

[gaywrites]

Hey. This is important. 

[itgetsbetteryk]

Here's some information on how to help support your friends or children who've come out of the closet!

Contact us with any questions!

[bardbumbling]

[therainbowtimes]

It is the only time when happiness will reach you, because you are yourself and that’s all you should always be. 

[itgetsbetteryk]

Our basic gender(identity)bread person to help you learn about the intersection of identities.

We know we're missing stuff, and we're working on an extended gender(identity)bread person. Suggest your identities to us here.

We're also working on a glossary where we can define all of these words for you all!

[transstudent]

Want to know more about your legal rights as an LGBTQ student? Click here for an awesome article by the Southern Poverty Law Center! To repost on Facebook, click here! To retweet, click here!

[ayashitetsuko]

An infographic by the UNAIDS of the discriminations faced by LGBTQ people. 

[transqueermediaexchange-deactiv]

[gaywrites]

The government in South Africa recently approved the Gay Flag of South Africa as an officially recognized flag, combining elements of the South African national flag with the traditional rainbow-colored gay pride flag.

South Africa is thought to be the only country in the world with an officially recognized LGBT flag. The group behind the flag is currently on tour to promote the flag and inspire support for LGBT equality.

“The Gay Flag of SA is now officially recognized and protected by the Department of Arts and Culture and the government of South Africa,” said Mava Mothiba from the department.

Eugene Brockman, the designer of the flag and co-founder with Henry Bantjes of the non-profit organization “Gay Flag of South Africa” that promotes the flag said, “The flag has become a symbol for both the celebration of queer South African identity as well as the a symbol against the obstacles facing LGBTI South Africans such as hate crimes. More than that the flag has become a watch dog, and its popularity resulted in the formation of an NPO advocacy group.”

Absolutely inspiring. Congratulations, all! 

[1ntellectual1ntercourse-blog]

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing!!!! 

[genderedintelligence]

European ‘And Others’ Trans Activist Toolkit

As part of a Grundtvig European Lifelong Learning Partnership project, the Scottish Transgender Alliance, Transgender Equality Network Ireland, Transgender Network Netherlands, TransInterQueer Berlin and Transgender Europe have together created a new European Trans Equality Toolkit.  The ‘And Others’ toolkit is aimed at people across Europe interested in trans activism on the topics of gender recognition, healthcare, employment, media representation and hate crime. This booklet is full of useful, well-presented information about trans rights in Europe.

You can find the booklet online here. (19MB)

Paper copies of the toolkit are available from the Scottish Transgender Alliance. 

[thatspickidkoolaid-blog]

[vingtiane]

[Christian leaders, stand on our soil and claim: “gay marriage” has never occurred here. Over 130 tribes in every region of North America performed millions of same-sex marriages for hundreds of years. Their statements are both hateful and ignorant. Your “homosexual”, was our “Two Spirit” people… and we considered them sacred]

[knowhomo-deactivated20191124]

LGBTQ* BANNED (!) or CHALLENGED (!) Books You Should Know

This week marks the 30th anniversary of the American Library Associations Banned Book Week Celebration (which celebrates and encourages you to read books which have been banned/challenged in local libraries and education, as well as educate yourself about censorship and printed media).

If you’d like more information, please check out ALA.org/bbooks

Below are TEN of the most challenged/banned LGBTQ* books. All of the information for these books is taken from the Huffington Press’ 16 Books Challenged for Their Gay Content (read more HERE). 

KNOWhomo & Keep On, Keeping On!

-Rebecca

(all text from Huffington Post)

‘And Tango Makes Three’

This 2005 children’s book, written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole, tells the story of two penguins raising a baby penguin in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Sounds innocent enough… except for the fact that both penguins were male.  Conservative opponents, such as the Focus on the Family Action group, said the book was inaccurate and promoted a political agenda to little kids. 

‘Running With Scissors’

Augusten Burroughs’ 2002 memoir traces his adolescence, living in the dysfunctional household of his mother’s psychiatrist. A central point to the memoir is the sexual relationship between thirteen year-old Augusten and thirty-three year-old Neil Bookman. This homosexual content, along with profanity, drug use, and “moral shortcomings,” led it to be banned in some high schools. 

‘Maurice’

E. M. Forster’s tale of homosexual love in early 20th century England, follows Maurice Hall from youth to adulthood and details his struggles, and eventual acceptance, of his gay tendencies and his relationship with another man.  The book was published in 1971 after Forster’s death. The author resisted publication because of public and legal attitudes to homosexuality — a note found on the manuscript read: “Publishable, but worth it?” So, in this case, the author himself was the one challenging the book, only because he knew how the book would be received in early 20th century England. 

‘Annie on my Mind’

This 1982 novel by Nancy Garden follows the romantic relationship between two 17-year-old New York City girls, Annie and Liza.  Although it was a widely praised piece of young adult fiction, it also brought critics, particularly in Kansas. Because of the gay themes, copies of the book were burned and superintendent Ron Wimmer of the Olathe School District ordered the book removed from the high school library to avoid controversy.  Garden later commented, about the burning: “Burned! I didn’t think people burned books any more. Only Nazis burn books…” 

‘Howl and Other Poems’

When Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” was published in 1956, the iconic Beat poem was considered “obscene literature,” and U.S. Customs officials seized 520 copies of the poem. “Howl” contained references to illicit drugs and sexual practices, both heterosexual and homosexual.  At the obscenity trial, literary experts testified on the poem’s behalf. Supported by the ACLU, the California State Superior Court Judge Clayton Horn decided that the poem was of “redeeming social importance,” and it went on to become one of the most popular pieces of Beat literature. 

“Luv Ya Bunches”

This children’s novel about four elementary school girls was pulled from Scholastic Book Fairs in 2009. Scholastic asked author Lauren Myracle to edit out some inappropriate language — “geez,” “crap,” “sucks,” — and turn one character’s lesbian parents straight.  Although Myracle was fine with changing the language, she saw nothing offensive about a child having gay parents and wouldn’t replace them with a heterosexual couple, so Scholastic didn’t accept the book for fear of getting hate mail from parents.  Myracle commented, “Over 200,000 kids in America are raised by same-sex parents, just like Milla. It’s not an issue to clean up or hide away… In my opinion, it’s not an ‘issue’ at all. The issue, as I see it, is that kids benefit hugely from seeing themselves reflected positively in the books they read. It’s an extremely empowering and validating experience.” 

‘Revolutionary Voices’

Edited by Amy Sonnie, this anthology was created by and for radical queer youth, committed specifically to youth of color, young women, transgender and bisexual youth, (dis)abled youth and working class youth.  The resource for queer students was widely controversial and was even targeted by members of Glenn Beck’s 9/12 movement and on theAmerican Library Association’s list of most challenged books in 2010. 

‘The Color Purple’

Alice Walker’s 1982 novel about the lives of black women in the 1930s American South is one the American Library Association’s frequently challenged classics, for reasons including “the homosexuality, rape, and incest portrayed in the book.” 

‘Am I Blue?’

Though 1994’s “Am I Blue?” — a collection of stories about being LGBT from authors like Francesca Lia Block, Bruce Coville, Nancy Garden and James Cross Giblin — was honored with awards from the ALA and the New York Public Library, it was also challenged for its content. 

‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’

Stephen Chbosky’s 1999 coming of age novel details introverted Charlie’s first year of high school. Among controversial issues, such as drug use and suicide, the book’s coverage of homosexuality landed it third on the American Library Association’s list of the top ten most frequently challenged books of 2009. 

[itgetsbetteryk]

Some safe space posters for you!

Note: We’re working on re-doing all of our resources. Stay tuned!