@glsen

Can we be real for a second? 👀 There’s a chance to protect LGBTQI+ students in school, but the comment portal to stand up for LGBTQI+ youth is closing soon. Don’t wait–make your comment today! Here’s what we know: 📓 LGBTQI+ students are being harassed and bullied in schools. 📝 The Biden Administration has proposed a new Title IX rule that would make it clear that anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination and bullying is unacceptable and must be responded to quickly. ❤️‍🩹 The rule isn’t perfect and should make it clear that misgendering is a harmful form of anti-LGBTQ+ harassment that trans and nonbinary students experience. 💔 People that do not want to see LGBTQI+ students protected are flooding the comment portal. Add your voice to show there is overwhelming support for LGBTQI+ youth! Once you’ve made your comment in the comment portal, tag 3 friends below. 🗣 We’re stronger together. We’re stronger than hate. Show your support for LGBTQI+ now: link in bio. [Image description pinned in the comments.]

We are hiring! Check out our Career Center through the link in our bio to see open positions. Share this with a friend who wants to #RiseUp4LGBTQ+ youth every day at GLSEN. [video description in comments]

⚠️Content warning – this post discusses suicidal feelings⚠️ Returning to school can be an exciting time of year—but we know it can also be an isolating time, with GLSEN’s research showing that most LGBTQ+ students (59.1%) reported personally experiencing LGBTQ-related discriminatory policies or practices at school. Students who reported experiencing discriminatory policies or practices in school had lower levels of self-esteem and higher level of depression. Teachers and school staff, however, can make a difference—visible adult support can go a long way in decreasing the feelings of isolation that can lead to despair. You can bring about change in your classroom by using already available resources like GLSEN’s Safe Space Kit. Access the Safe Space Kit via the link in our bio. [Image Descriptions in comments]

We need your help!! 🚨 The Biden Administration is looking to hear from students, teachers, parents, and allies about the newly proposed Title IX rule. If you believe schools should be free from anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination and bullying, submit a comment today! Take action now. Link in bio. [Image Description in comments] @potus @joebiden #titleix #RiseUp4LGBTQ #glsen

This year alone we've seen more than 200 anti-LGBTQ+ youth bills filed. We need leaders who will rise up and fight back. Thank you to the Members of Congress who are championing inclusion and safety in our nation's schools. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️✏️ #RiseUp4LGBTQ+ [Video description in the comments.]

Setting the stage for an amazing school year can be exciting and challenging. It is especially important now for educators and administrators to create safe and affirming environments where LGBTQ+ students can thrive. #RiseUp4LGBTQ+ 🏳️‍🌈 [Image descriptions in comments]

We want to hear from you! Comment below or answer the questions in our stories to share ideas about what you want to see from GLSEN in the future. Feedback is crucial in order to provide engaging and useful resources for everyone! ✨ [Image descriptions in comments]

We know that going back to school means navigating new challenges, especially for LGBTQ+ students. You deserve a school where you feel safe and respected; and we hope these tips make your school experience a little easier to navigate. We are by your side, always. ⭐️

Spread the love – get up to 50% off on select GLSEN merchandise in our shop! Each purchase helps us support and #RiseUp4LGBTQ+ youth in schools across the country. Shop now at http://shop.glsen.org ⭐️💖👕 If you could design a piece of GLSEN swag, what would it be? [Image descriptions in comments]

It’s the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples! This year’s theme is “leave no one behind.” As we celebrate LGBTQ+ youth, we cannot leave behind the long, storied history of gender diversity that has existed long before colonization. Drop a 🧠 if you learned something new. Drop a 📖 if you knew one of these facts. Drop a ❤️ if you support gender diverse youth. [Image descriptions in comments.]

“Let our love stories unfold.” 📖 When a highschooler reached out to us this week to share what they wrote and asked us to share it, we couldn’t say no. This is perfect. Let’s shower them in sunshine and hope. If you have felt like this too, drop a sun in the comments. ☀️ Even on cloudy days, you are not alone. [Image descriptions in comments. Text shared below.] Hello, I’m a high school student living in the previously sunny state of Florida. While mindlessly scrolling through instagram stories I came across a post about same-sex-marriage. As a openly gay student I was intrigued by the post and opened something that I would have never imagined possible. I stared in shock that 157 politicians decided to vote against gay marriage. After looking into the topic and reading articles about the situation, I came across a realization. A realization that my right to be with my true love could be taken away. I cannot tell you how much I believe in love and that one day I will find my other half. One day I will find the person who I will spend the rest of my life with. I watch love stories unfold showing how two people who are destined for each other find their ways into one another’s lives. They love, they fight, they laugh, they cry, but at the end of it all, they have their happily ever afters. I dream about this every night, how much I want to lay in someone’s arms, to have them comfort me when i’m scared, but most of all, to have them love me unconditionally. The idea that one day I will bump into somebody and have that one tiny moment lead to my happily ever after. I am watching politicians vote to strip away my dreams because they feel I am causing harm to others by simply finding my true love. If this bill does not get passed, I cannot make my dream come true because my right to equality in my world will be in jeopardy. My love story will never be told because it can never exist. The sunny state of Florida has become cloudy overhead as the votes against us gays rain down harder than ever before. We need to bring back the sun and let our love stories unfold. #RiseUp4LGBTQ

Calling all LGBTQ+ Student Advocates! 📣 The application for Student Advocate of the year is now open. If you know someone who has made a positive impact on LGBTQ+ inclusivity in your school, nominate them today! Self-nominations are accepted! Applications are open until August 14, 2022, at 11:59 pm PST. Every year, GLSEN honors one exceptional student leader who has done outstanding work in making their school inclusive and affirming for LGBTQ+ students. After an application and interview process, the chosen Student Advocate of the Year and an adult chaperone will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles, CA to be honored at the LA Respect Awards on October 14th, 2022. At the ceremony, they will have the chance to meet other LGBTQ+ student leaders and share the stage with celebrity guests. We cannot wait to see all the amazing work students are doing across the country to make their schools a better place for LGBTQ+ youth. Link in stories and highlight: SOTY 22 ✨ [Image descriptions in comments.]