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Live Out Loud: Working to Foster Gay Youth Pride

By , About.com Guide

Live Out Loud

Live Out Loud Scholarship Winners

Image (c) Live Out Loud

Origins :

The New York based organization Live Out Loud was inspired by a magazine article which looked at how hostile school environments, isolation, ostracism and fear could drive a GLBT teen to commit suicide.

Goals :

Live Out Loud is dedicated to empowering GLBT youth and helping gay teens feel proud of who they are. Their hope is that doing so will help gay teens develop confidence and will counter the effects of living in an often homophobic society.

Programs:

Live Out Loud invites openly gay professionals to speak to youth at high schools and colleges about their experiences. It also offers youth scholarships and is in the process of developing classes for youth on these issues.

Mission:

Live Out Loud's mission is "to empower, energize and enable lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth to live the life of their dreams through the celebration of the richness and diversity of our shared experience, the visibility of role models and the dissemination of information."

Live Out Loud Works to Help Gay Teens "Live the Lives of Their Dreams":

In many ways, gay teens have it better than ever. With GSA's, Ally Weeks and an annual Day of Silence, more and more GLBT youth are finding support.

However, homophobia is still a very real problem that gay teens encounter every day. Live Out Loud strives to combat the effects that homophobia can have on teens by helping fostering self esteem in GLBT youth, rewarding teens leaders in the gay community and introducing teens to positive gay adult role models.

They hope that by doing this they can help gay youth "live the life of their dreams through the celebration of the richness and diversity of our shared experience, the visibility of role models and the dissemination of information."

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