We will forever mourn and memorialize the victims of the Pulse shooting in Orlando and will grieve the loss of safe and affirming spaces for LGBTQ people for some time. As we begin to think about how to move forward and look ahead to the Pride events coming up in June and throughout the rest of the year, we are reminded of the importance of visible shows of support, whether in person or online.
When GLSEN began its work in 1990, people were only beginning to be out in K-12 settings—whether as LGBT themselves or as allies to LGBT people. Over the years, we've learned what a huge difference visible support at school makes in the lives of LGBTQ students. Indeed, GLSEN's most recent National School Climate Survey shows LGBTQ students who are able to identify supportive school staff feel safer at school and have better educational outcomes.
A visible show of pride in our identities and communities, whether LGBTQ, Latinx, Muslim or others under attack, has rarely been more urgent. Equally urgent is the need for action, to address the needs of those affected by violence and hate, and to fight back to eliminate those damaging forces in our society.
TAKE ACTION
Join GLSEN and #ShowYourPride by updating your profile photo on Facebook and Twitter with these campaign frames:
Choose your profile photo frame by clicking TRY THIS from GLSEN's profile photo on our Facebook Page.
Update your Twitter profile by visiting the #ShowYourPride (english) and #DemostrarTuOrgullo (Spanish) campaigns on Twibbon, an app that will help you easily create and update your profile photo.