• by Danielle Oster , June 10, 2024

It Gets Better, a global nonprofit  dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ youth through storytelling, has teamed up with a group of creators to build a “Pride Village” within the popular sandbox game Minecraft.

In collaboration with Carper Creative, It Gets Better kicked off an eight-day fundraising event last week, in the form of an unofficial Minecraft build relay it characterized as “an opportunity for LGBTQ+ youth to be loud and be proud.” The relay runs across various Twitch channels through June 13, culminating with the public unveiling of the official It Gets Better Twitch channel of a virtual space for LGBTQ+ youth to connect with and build community.  Over 35 content creators are participating in the effort.

"The Pride Village Minecraft relay presents a unique opportunity to experience what Pride means to content creators all over the world, and ultimately, offer LGBTQ+ youth a lasting digital world they can visit anytime,” Brian Wenke, executive director of It Gets Better said in a statement.

The activation is part of the organization’s fifth-annual “It Gets Better: A Digital Pride Experience,” campaign which was designed to offer a safe space to gather with community online for LGBTQ+ youth who may not have the opportunity to celebrate Pride in person.

According to the organization, LGBTQ+ youth are more than twice as likely to spend time on Twitch than their non-LGBTQ+ peers, and four out of ten LGBTQ+ youth say they prefer social media to in-person communication.

In addition to the Minecraft relay event, the campaign will feature Pride-themed streams on the organization's Twitch channel throughout the month as a fundraising appeal. All funds raised from the Pride Month campaign, up to $50,000, will be matched by a donation from E.L.F. Cosmetics.

"Since launching our Twitch ambassador and charity streaming programs in 2021, creators have raised more than 160,000 dollars in support of LGBTQ+ youth. They've offered critical advice, a welcoming community, and a home away from home for LGBTQ+ young people who are coming into their own and discovering who they are," It Gets Better assistant manager of gaming and broadcasting Mia Mercer said in a statement.