ABOUT US | SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Inspired by the "It Gets Better" website and YouTube campaign, YouMakeItBetter.org will offer video guides to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth immediately improve their lives.
As we wrote in our original post, "It Gets Better Because You Make It Better":
Here's the secret nobody's telling you: Making it better is up to you.
Don't get me wrong - it really DOES get better with time, and it really DOES get better after high school, and everyone in those "It Gets Better" videos is right to share their stories of overcoming hardship, discrimination and suicidal thoughts - it really helps to hear that other people have been through what you're going through and come out okay.
But here's the thing: nothing happens if you don't do anything.
Let's try an experiment!
Sit in your chair, close your eyes and think very hard about getting up and going into the kitchen. Think about this for 30 seconds.
Okay, how far did you move?
You DIDN'T! Getting up and going into the kitchen is just like making your life happy - you have to take the small actions to change things!
Ah, but what action to take to "Make It Better?"
Many of the "It Gets Better" video stars talk about how great it was when they got out of their small town and moved to (wherever). While there's something to be said for getting away from an abusive situation, if your problem is depression, shame and suicidal thoughts, just changing your environment may not be enough. Besides, maybe you're not old enough to move out on your own, and don't want to join the 500,000 homeless LGBT youth already on the streets.
The most important thing you can do to "Make It Better" is to train your mind to be happy, and practice doing the things that improve your life."
YouMakeItBetter.org features videos offering expert Body, Mind, Spirit and Relationship advice you can use to "MAKE It Better" starting TODAY.
To suggest a video, you can contact us here.
If you are in need of emergency support, dial 911 or call The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386.
Submission Guidelines
Please submit videos under ten minutes in length. Remember, your video should offer clear, how-to instructions LGBTQ youth can follow to make their lives better starting today!
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YouTube/Google Account
In order to upload your video, you must have a valid YouTube account. CLICK HERE to create a YouTube account.
- Clear sound is crucial.
If no one can hear it, no one will watch it. Make sure to shoot in quiet environments and project. - Don't backlight.
Make sure light is on your face and not behind it — i.e. don't sit in front of a bright window. - Title and tag your video
Use the title "Make It Better" and include your name and location - ex: "Make It Better: How to Lead from Rev. Perry in LA ". Use tags to describe your video so that other people can find it easily; ex: "Gay Christian Minister LGBT Youth Leadership."
Upload your video to YouTube and then email the URL to us and we'll share it on the site!
Thank you so much!
BODY
- Fitness
- Diet
- Yoga
- Sexual Health
- Transgender Issues
- Beauty/Style
- Weight Loss
- Body Image
- Cutting/Self-Abuse
- What if I get AIDS?
- Gestures and Mannerisms
- You don’t need to be “straight-acting”
- Cuddling
- Drugs and Alcohol/Smoking
- Loving Myself Just as I Am
- Self-Defense
MIND
- Affirmations
- Handling Negative Thoughts
- Overcoming Depression
- Loneliness
- Handling Conflict
- Don’t Lose Your Temper
- Visioning Boards
- Creative Visualization
- Re-parenting Yourself
- The Work of Byron Katie
- Letting Go
- Meditation
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
- Mirror-Work
- Being LGBTQ is Not a Sickness
SPIRIT
- Bible/Torah/Koran and Homosexuality
- Ancient Terms and What They Mean
- How to Pray (and Why)
- Does God Let Gays Into Heaven?
- Law of Attraction
- Sacred Sexuality
- Gay is God’s Gift
- Gay Mythology/The Power of Myth
- Mantras
- Rituals
- What does it mean to be Spiritual-But-Not-Religious?
- Why is my life important?
- Why do bad things happen to good people?
- What is sin? Is being gay a sin?
RELATIONSHIPS
- Handling Bullies
- What Mom and Dad Don’t Know
- Coming Out
- When/How should I come out?
- What if they don’t accept me?
- What if I get kicked out?
- First Dates
- First Sexual Experiences
- Healing a Broken Heart
- Friends as Chosen Family
- Community Service
- Meeting Partners Online
- Leadership
- Servant Leadership
- Mindful, Nonjudgmental Listening
- Finding My Place in the Gay Community
- Good Citizenship
- Activism
- Changing Things at School
- What if I’m single forever?
- I’ve never been in love.
- I’m in love with a straight boy/girl.
I'd like to make a difference for a million youth with OUTstanding Youth Confidence programs. http://www.outstandinglives.org/ Know any good speakers or actors who could present the program in schools?
Please pass this along. Thanks! YOU make a difference.
Sharon Love
Posted by: Sharon Love | 12/08/2010 at 05:46 PM