New book is created and curated entirely by
LGBTQ+ youth from across the United States.
LOS
ANGELES, May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- It Gets
Better, the world's largest effort to empower LGBTQ+ youth, today
announced the release of its first book in nearly 13 years.
Queerbook is a collection of short stories, artwork, poetry,
photography, essays, and more — created and curated entirely by
LGBTQ+ youth. The organization previously released the 2011
New York Times bestseller It
Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life
Worth Living. A limited run of Queerbook is now
available exclusively through It Gets Better's website,
ItGetsBetter.org/shop/.
The power of a story, no matter the
format, has the potential to inspire millions.
Whereas It Gets Better's previous book release primarily
featured adults sharing messages of support with LGBTQ+ teens,
Queerbook is entirely "for queer youth, by queer youth" and
was even curated and edited by the organization's Youth Voices — 10
LGBTQ+ student ambassadors from across the country.
Preparation for Queerbook began in Fall 2023. It Gets
Better worked in collaboration with Tumblr and asked LGBTQ+ young
people throughout the country to answer the question — "What is
your Queer Utopia?" More than 250 young people answered the prompt
and 86 entries were selected for publication. Each contributor was
compensated for their entry and will receive a copy of the finished
book.
Queerbook's release comes at a time when the rights of
LGBTQ+ youth in the United States
are under attack. In 2023 alone, at least 510 anti-LGBTQ+ bills
were presented in legislatures across the nation, three times as
many as in the previous record-setting year, 2022. A new report
from PEN America reveals more than 4,000 instances of book bans,
the overwhelming majority of which target LGBTQ+ literature,
recorded in the first half of the 2023-2024 school year alone.
"I don't know of a better way to begin building a brighter
future than by giving younger generations an outlet to express what
that future should look like," said Brian
Wenke, Executive Director of It Gets Better.
"Queerbook is another extension of It Gets Better's
unwavering effort to create a world where all LGBTQ+ youth are free
to live equally, connect with their community, and know their power
as individuals. And, the power of a story, no matter the format,
has the potential to inspire millions. I am so proud of every
single contributor who brought this project to life. They give me
hope for a better tomorrow!"
"Queerbook is meant for every young person who feels as I
did," It Gets Better Youth Voice Ellie Z., who helped edit
Queerbook, writes in the book. "[It's] for any person who is
questioning their identity or sexuality, for anyone who is nervous
about their future as an LGBTQ+ person, and for those who are
already confident in their identity and would like to celebrate it.
It is… meant to inspire and remind us of the happy experiences that
await us and the loving community that is more than ready for us.
After all, there are so many amazing things that come with being
queer."
Storytelling is at the heart of It Gets Better's efforts to
empower LGBTQ+ youth. Earlier this year, the organization
relaunched its website ItGetsBetter.org as a hub for LGBTQ+ and
questioning youth, encouraging them to explore and define their own
journey at their own pace in the comfort of community. The
organization recently closed applications for a third year of
its 50 States, 50 Grants, 5000 Voices program, which
has distributed more than $1.1
million in grants to middle and high schools in the U.S. and
Canada for student-led projects
designed to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ students. More than 100 grant
recipient middle and high schools will also be receiving
complimentary copies of Queerbook.
For more information or to preview Queerbook, visit
ItGetsBetter.org or contact ross.vonmetzke@itgetsbetter.org.
About It Gets Better
It Gets Better is a 501(c)3
nonprofit organization that strives to uplift, empower and connect
LGBTQ+ youth around the globe. Launched in 2010 as the result of
one of the most successful viral video campaigns in YouTube's
history, It Gets Better provides critical, life-affirming support
to LGBTQ+ youth worldwide by leveraging the power of media to
reach millions of people every year. The organization has expanded
its storytelling efforts to include educational programming via It
Gets Better EDU and has a global footprint spanning four continents
and eight major languages via It Gets Better Global. It Gets Better
is the number one non-profit for LGBTQ+ youth on TikTok, Tumblr,
Twitch and YouTube.
The non-profit has garnered support from President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, along with numerous
celebrities, including Kelly
Clarkson, Gabrielle Union,
Chris and Scott Evans, Jojo Siwa, Zachary
Quinto, Mj Rodriguez, Hayley
Kiyoko, and Gigi Gorgeous. More than 750,000 people have
taken the It Gets Better pledge to share messages of hope and speak
up against intolerance. Please visit www.ItGetsBetter.org for more
information, and join the conversation on all social platforms
@itgetsbetter.
Media Contact
Ross von
Metzke
Senior Director, Communications & PR
It Gets Better
ross.vonmetzke@itgetsbetter.org
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SOURCE It Gets Better