Dear John,
When students at Benjamin Franklin High School lost a beloved member of their GSA, they didn’t just grieve—they took action. With an It Gets Better: Changemakers grant, they built a Q Center at their school, hosted a Day for Queer Youth, and teamed up with a Broadway director to stage something lawmakers couldn’t ignore: The Capitol Project.
Standing on the steps of Louisiana’s Capitol, they performed their stories—stories of resilience, loss, and the fight for their future. At the end, 17-year-old Ava Kreutziger put it simply:
"I just hope they can see something in us that’s worth saving."
And people did. State Senator Royce Duplessis asked, “How do we expect kids to stay in a state like this when laws tell them we don’t care?” Grown adults in the audience passed the mic, pledging, “We’re here to fight with you, every step of the way.”
This is the sort of magic that happens when LGBTQ+ youth are given the chance to lead. And it's magic that we want to see all across the country with the help of the It Gets Better: Changemakers 2025-2026 grant cycle.
Have an idea that could make a difference in your community? With grants available in increments from $500 to $10,000, no amount is too small to accomplish huge changes in your community. Apply for a Changemakers grant by May 5th at itgetsbetter.org/changemakers.
Not applying, but want to support more projects like this? Your donation makes it possible.
Because when young people stand up, the world has to listen.
Ross W. von Metzke (he/him)
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
It Gets Better
P.S. - Join us Monday, March 24 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT on Zoom to ask all of your questions about the It Gets Better: Changemakers grant opportunity. RSVP today!
The It Gets Better Project is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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