Most LGBT publications and organizations also have Tumblr pages, such as the The Advocate, Autostraddle, GLAAD, GLSEN, and the Trevor Project. This can be accomplished by searching “LGBTQ” in the tags, which yields LGBT YA reviews or pro-equality political blog, All Out. The trick to Tumblr lies in following LGBT-positive blogs. It was also on Tumblr that I first came across terms like ‘bisexual’ and ‘non-binary,’ which was fundamental in shaping my identity.” “Seeing other LGBT teens who were actually happy with themselves and their identity caused to me realize that I could actually do. “I’ve been on for a few years, and I think it was the single most important thing in allowing me to accept myself,” says Selma, a high school student in DuPage County, Illinois. “On Tumblr, you can ask questions anonymously if you want, which I think is really important.” “There are blogs created specifically for LGBT reasons, and all the owners of those blogs tend to be really good with advice,” says a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) student from Clinton Rosette Middle School in DeKalb, Illinois. Tumblr has long received wide acclaim from young people looking for LGBT-friendly spaces online. With this in mind, here are six online spaces that real LGBT young people have cited as the safest places to hang out. However, by knowing where to find safe spaces, LGBT youth can curate a vibrant online community of support, and be seen and heard for who they are. “A lot of young people are so excited to connect with each other about things that oftentimes in the real world can feel really isolating,” says Amit Routh, a senior manager with the Trevor Project.īut the Internet isn’t always a safe haven for the LGBT community, especially for those underage.
For LGBT young people, the Internet plays a large role in their ability to feel comfortable exploring their identity and finding others to openly talk to. In addition, LGBT youth said that their online friends were more supportive than those they knew in real life. More than 60 percent of LGBT youth use the Internet to connect with each other, according to a 2013 study by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN).