In the wake of the many gay youth suicides this month, the It Gets Better Project was launched on YouTube. This is a powerful campaign and exactly what social networking and online media do best. My wish is that these videos offer hope to anyone who is struggling out there. (Sorry no links. I’m writing this off-line.)

But I am also struck by how dark and lonely it can be to be a LGBTQ youth. Adolescence is hard enough! We need to all work to create more open, safe, positive spaces for our youth. This can be as simple as volunteering or as meaningful as standing up to hatred, intolerance and bigotry. It starts with us. It starts now.

Here are some stand-out videos: