There aren’t many people speaking up about LGBTQ youth, and there are even fewer people doing it with an audience . But there are a handful of celebrities advocating for the LGBTQ community and inspiring youth to overcome the challenges ahead. Check out these five celebrities speaking up for queer youth:
1. Miley Cyrus
This musician founded the Happy Hippie Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering homeless and LGBT youth, and partnered with Instagram to launch the #InstaPride initiative to help share transgender stories.
2. Ellen Page
Ellen Page has spoken about her difficulty as an LGBTQ actress and has taken on roles that make queer issues the topic of the conversation. Not many young celebrities have come out, so her story can really make a difference.
3. Kerry Washington
This actress used her time speaking at the GLAAD media awards to call for more LGBT representation in the media. If there are more shows that portray queer life, more teens can find comfort in their story. It’s a great way to spread acceptance and love.
4. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has always been supportive of the queer community, but took her support to a new level when she visited homeless LGBT youth at a shelter in Harlem. She revealed her own struggle with PTSD and went on to deliver this powerful message: “Meditation helps me to calm down. I don’t have the same kinds of issues that you have, but I have a mental illness, and I struggle with that mental illness every day. I need my mantra to help keep me relaxed. You are brave. You are courageous.”
5. Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen was one of the first tv stars to come out when it was taboo. Since then, she has been a beacon of hope for LGBTQ youth and adults alike. At the Teen Choice Awards, she gave an inspiring speech that reached thousands of youth and gave them hope that life would get better.
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