In early November, the citizens of Arizona, California and Florida voted to enshrine discrimination in their state constitutions by banning same-sex marriage. In all three states, young people were the only group to vote against these amendments.

You can call it whatever you want – idealism, friendship, faith, duty – but there’s something out there that each of us is willing to stand up and fight for. No one else is going to do it for us.

And that’s just fine, because we’re taking matters into our own hands.


Amplify Exclusive: Utah Fights Back Against Prop 8



Featured Blog

Fighting H8: March for Equal Rights in Washington, DC

(The following was written by Kellan Baker, the organizer of the amazing D.C. protest)

Over the last few days, I have received numerous phone calls from the media in the DC area, wanting me to weigh in on whether the District's March for Equal Rights on Saturday, November 15th was a success. My answer is always one of grateful astonishment, because the march was incredible. It exceeded my wildest expectations, especially when there were only five days to plan it. But even as I answer, I cannot believe the question even had to be asked. How could it be called anything but a triumph for hope and love when 5,000 people brave a downpour to march more than two miles down the Mall in support of equal rights for their fellow Americans?

(READ MORE)

Take Action: Tell Congress to Pass the Matthew Shepherd Act

Lawrence King was just 15 when he was shot dead by a classmate in February of 2008 because he was gay. Trans youth Simmie Williams Jr., was also killed in a hate-based drive by shooting. Many others have shared their fate.

A law protecting all of our citizens against hate crimes is long overdue. Take action now!

About Amplify

Amplify, a project of Advocates for Youth, is an online community dedicated to sexual health, reproductive justice, and youth-led grassroots movement building. Amplify isn’t about making the world suddenly perfect – it’s about change, about standing up for what we believe in. It’s also a place to celebrate the incredible work we’re doing across the United States and around the world. And when it comes to sexual health, reproductive justice, and making sure that the rights of young people – all young people, everywhere – are respected by those in power… Well, there’s an awful lot of work to do.

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Advocates for Youth offers an in-depth toolkit about creating safe space for young people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Because homophobia is a real problem, for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) and straight youth, this online toolkit is intended to assist youth-serving professionals in educating youth to understand and support their GLBTQ peers, redressing homophobia and transphobia among staff, and becoming an ally. 

 

The toolkit includes a variety of step-by-step lesson plans, tipsheets, and other resources. Learn more.

 

 

 

 

Advocates for Youth works with community-based organizations that serve youth of color to address homophobia/transphobia and create safe spaces for GLBTQ youth of color. Advocates provides technical assistance and training – as well as seed grants – to community-based organizations to create and implement a project that address homophobia and meets the sexual health needs of GLBTQ youth of color in their agency and in the community at large. Learn more.

 

 

In 1998, Advocates for Youth launched YouthResource, a groundbreaking website by and for GLBTQ youth. Trained peer educators answer questions confidentially and anonymously from queer youth across the country on a variety of topics, including coming out, sexual orientation, gender identity, realttionships and communication, sexual health, and activism. Advocates also operates AmbienteJoven, a site by and for Spanish-speaking GLBTQ youth.