Support Grows To Combat Bullying And Suicide

SAN FRANCISCO - More than 70 organizations have now endorsed the Make It Better Project, a new initiative launched by Gay-Straight Alliance Network in response to recent LGBT youth suicides.

The Trevor Project is the latest group to join The Make It Better Project, following GLSEN, HRC, and many more of the nation's largest LGBT organizations.

Members of the 70+ organizations joined forces on Tuesday in a nationwide effort to call Congress, urging lawmakers to pass the federal Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act.

GSA Network launched the Make It Better Project to give youth and adults the tools they need to combat anti-LGBT bullying and make schools safer for LGBT youth right now. Columnist Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" video campaign, inspired the project.

The Make It Better Project includes a website and YouTube channel where students and adults can upload video messages to share what they are doing to combat bullying and make schools safer. New videos are being added every day. The website offers a collection of resources and action steps for youth and adults who want to address bullying and prevent suicide. You can follow the project on Twitter and Facebook.

"As a gay youth who has been bullied at school, I am calling on youth and adults around the country to join the Make It Better Project and put a stop to anti-LGBT bullying." said Isaiah Baiseri, 17, a GSA Network youth activist who spoke out about bullying and suicide on the Dr. Phil show this Wednesday. "Schools should be safe for every student. Please don't wait until another LGBT youth dies to do your part to Make It Better."

"Our community has suffered a terrible loss in the past month, as numerous LGBT young people have taken their own lives after relentless bullying, including Raymond Chase, Seth Walsh, Asher Brown, Billy Lucas, and Tyler Clementi, to name just a few. These tragic and preventable deaths have made headlines across the country, serving as a wake up call to people everywhere," said Carolyn Laub, Executive Director of GSA Network, who launched the Make It Better Project. "We can't afford to wait another day, and lose another life, to the epidemic of anti-LGBT bullying in our schools. This is the moment for all of us -- students, parents, teachers, administrators, community members, and elected officials to do everything in our power to make schools safer for LGBT youth."

The Make It Better Project is sponsored by GSA Network. GSA Network empowers youth to fight homophobia and transphobia in school by training youth activists and supporting student-led Gay-Straight Alliance clubs in California and throughout the country.

The Make It Better Project is endorsed by:
ACLU of Northern California
Add Verb Productions
Advocates For Youth
Billy DeFrank Center
Break the Cycle
Broward Human Rights Initiative
California NOW
Californians for Justice
Campus Progress
COLAGE
Courage Campaign
Deaf Queer Resource Center
Diversity Center
Equality California
Equality Federation
Family Equality Council
FIERCE
Friends of Project 10
Gay City Health Project
Gender Justice LA
GLAAD
GLBTQ Online High School
GLSEN
Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA)
GroundSpark
GSA for Safe Schools
Harmony Cafe
HRC
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
Ingersoll Gender Center
Jer's Vision
Keshet
LA Gay & Lesbian Center - Family Services Program
Lambda Legal
LIGALY
Marriage Equality USA
Mass Equality
Mazzoni Center
No H8
NYAC
One Colorado
One Iowa
Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition
Our Family Coalition
Out Media
Outright Vermont
Pacific Center
People for the American Way
PFLAG
Queers for Economic Justice
Rainbow Health Initiative
Safe Schools Coalition
Safe Schools South Florida
Scarleteen
Scenarios USA
SF LGBT Center
SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US)
SMYRC
Southern Poverty Law Center
Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada
Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition
Trans Mentors
TransActive
Transgender Law Center
Trevor Project
University of Washington Q Center
Utah QSA Network
We Are The Youth
Welcoming Schools/HRC Family Project
Youth Leadership Institute
Youth Pride, Inc.
Youth Suicide Prevention Program