Hi DoSomething members, 

Today we are recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to remember those who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence. To prevent this violence from spreading and build a community of care, we are also using today as a moment to deepen our understanding the issues young transgender people are facing across the country. As 84% of transgender and non-binary youth do not feel safe in schools, if we can spread the knowledge of how a safer and more inclusive environment can be created to support their safety, we will all be safer.

Looking back at our Louder Than Ever 2023 Pride program, we asked y’all to speak out against discrimination and share ways in which others can support the safety of the LGBTQIA+ community as better allies.

You did not disappoint!

So, to help you participate meaningfully in Transgender Day of Remembrance, we bring you our 2023 LGBTQIA+ allyship guide filled with highlights from the 700+ tips you shared. Because being a great ally is W for all!

Let's Do This!

DoSomething

Our DoSomething members are teaching us how to show up and stand up for transgender youth.

DoSomething member Tayler F. 17 said, “My goal has always been to keep an open mind towards people and their ideals with the phrase, ‘everyone has a right to their own opinion’ in mind but the one thing that I have never accepted as an opinion is the one of human rights. It should be a fact that the LGBQTIA+ community should have the same rights as everyone else which is to be themselves in a safe and welcoming environment. If you are thinking to yourself, ‘well what can I do?’, the answer to your query is quite a lot. Not everyone has it in them to go protests out on the streets and not every change is a loud one, there are many subtle ways to make a difference among the LGBTQIA+ youth. As a youth myself in the same community, I am always looking to make new friends and allies. As everyone should, I always ask for pronouns as easily as asking someone what their boundaries are with physical touch. Openly supporting the LGBTQIA+ is a quick way to surround yourself with the same characters and feel free to donate to charity.”

“I make sure to have civil conversations with others, keeping an open mind surrounding their backgrounds. If I wish to be respected, I will respect others in the same way, such as speaking to one another as human beings, focusing on our unity as people while also acknowledging our differences in a peaceful manner”, said DoSomething member Amanda C. 17 “I wish to understand and learn about the different perspectives of people with a different gender or sexuality than mine to better understand them as a person. Everyone should strive to respect and show kindness to others, remaining in this cycle of assumption and violence only causes more of a rift amongst every person.”

Now that’s how we show up as an ally!

The Right to 📗…Hey NYers! The Brooklyn Public Library wants you to attend an Intellectual Freedom Teen Meetup. You’ll discuss the importance of protecting the right to read banned books and learn about the current BPL's Books Unbanned initiative. Sign up here to attend a virtual meet tomorrow November 21st at 5:00pm.

No Laughing Matter… Comedian and Actor Marlon Wayans didn’t just talk about comedy during a recent interview, but he talked about the understanding he developed with his transgender son. He shared that while his son transitioned, Wayans also changed his way of thinking, “...affirming his child’s identity was the predominant influence on their well-being and safety.” 

That’s PROGRESS… The United States Department of Agriculture recently held a Tribal Youth Summit, revealing new initiatives to help Native American young people to “...explore Indigenous foodways and knowledge and highlight career paths at USDA and beyond.”

Fastweb

National Scholarship Month is a great time to explore scholarships and to apply for each opportunity! Refine your scholarship application standards this November by picking a goal that works for you. Enter in three steps:

1. Be a Fastweb member.
2. Answer a multiple-choice question. There’s no wrong answer.
3. Submit your entry by November 30, 2023.

Enter the sweepstakes daily!

CollegeXpress

Enter the CollegeXpress CX Holiday Wishlist Scholarship to earn a $500 scholarship for the month of November. You just have the answer one question, What’s the #1 gift you would like to receive this holiday season?

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