Everyone get ready for Stand Up! Awareness Week which begins April 4th and runs until April 15th. The program will run in schools and youth services across Ireland. During the week, teachers, educators and youth leaders will offer fun and educational activities for young people who wish to participate. The purpose of these activities is to build supportive links among young people and reduce the amount of bullying and name-calling that goes on in schools.

So why do we need Stand Up! Week? Many young LGBT people develop their sexuality in and gender identities within a supportive group of family, friends and communities who are leading happy lives. However, there is a large amount of homophobia, bullying and exclusion going on in schools and youth programs worldwide.

This new campaign is being put on by BeLonG To Youth Service, a national organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) young people, aged between 14 and 23 in Ireland. They believe that LGBT youth need to be cared for a respected and when they fell supported, they will thrive as healthy and equal citizens. Their provide direct youth work services for LGBT youth in Dublin and youth within the country.

Because we believe that the problems which LGBT young people experience are largely due to negative societal attitudes, we also work to change these attitudes. This is done by training teachers and youth workers, running awareness campaigns in schools and youth services and working with government departments to ensure that LGBT young people are heard so that positive social change occurs. – belongto.org

What an amazing message and PSA. It made me tear up a little bit, no lie. I want to thank my buddy Andrew Stelmack for making me aware of this campaign and video. For more info on Stand Up! Week and the BeLonG To organization, check out there website below.
http://www.belongto.org/default.aspx

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