A #TrueColorsDay Recap | April 24, 2019
This #TrueColorsDay, thousands of people across the world showed their true colors by posting unselfies, spreading the word online, and getting active in their communities. Nearly 100 organizations partnered with us to rep the cause, and we had participation from every state in the country for the first time ever!
Together, we’re working to implement innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.
Here’s a little recap for ya:
The Cast of Pose Unites for #TrueColorsDay.
Honored to have the support of the cast of FX’s Pose for #TrueColorsDay! Get a first look at season 2 and learn what #TrueColorsDay means to the cast!
40% of youth experiencing homelessness are LGBTQ. #TrueColorsDay is a day to raise awareness.
We asked the cast of Pose why #TrueColorsDay is important.
Ryan Jamaal Swain: For so much of our life, society tells us to conform and twist to these notions of who they think we are. I think what’s so beautiful about Pose for me personally is the fact that so many young people are seeing themselves realized.
MJ Rodriguez: Representation means, you know, being aware and actually letting us be seen as humans – and letting us be seen in the way that we wanted to be seen for many years. I mean, a lot of trans women, especially trans women of color, we’ve always had to fight for our rights.
Dominique Jackson: But we realize that this is what we have to do in order for us to show the world that we do exist and to make that statement that visibility can bring hope for a lot of people.
Billy Porter: You know, I was never kicked out of my home. I never endured homelessness, but I did feel disenfranchised from my biological family because of my sexuality and I went in search of a community that sort of understood me and embraced me and loved me unconditionally for who I am.
Ryan Jamaal Swain: We are stronger because we are all a different cog in the machine – you can’t have one cog without the other cog. And I think that when we try to make ourselves a monolith as humans, we lose the spark and the magic of who we are as people, which are beautiful, which are vibrant, which are radiant beings that all come together to make this beautiful beautiful union and I think we need to start from there: a place of empathy. Go to truecolorsday.org to learn how you can make a difference. See ya there!
Facebook Livestream Inspires and Entertains
Our livestream guests are each doing unique things to create a more equitable world for LGBTQ youth. Topics of discussion ranged from chosen family to “art-ivism” to the role of dreaming in the movement to end youth homelessness.
Check out a few clips below, and you can watch all the videos on Facebook! Thanks to everyone who tuned in and participated!
United, We Will End LGBTQ Youth Homelessness
However you got involved on #TrueColorsDay, we thank you. United, we were able to reach an estimated 16 million people across the world. Whether you tweeted, posted an unselfie, set up a photo-booth, or signed up your organization to partner – however you helped – you made #TrueColorsDay possible. But the advocacy doesn’t have to stop there!
Stay up to date on our work, and for more opportunities to make a difference.
