Call for LGBTQ+ young people to share their story for an international book and exhibition 

Do you have a story to share about your experience as an LGBTQ+ young person?  

Empowering Voices: LGBTQ+ Youth Untold Stories is a transformative initiative aimed at capturing, preserving and celebrating the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ young people across five nations: Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

The project will result in the creation of a book and digital exhibition, platforming the voices of LGBTQ+ youth and sharing their unique stories through creative mediums such as film, art, photography, audio and text.  

In Ireland, this international collaboration is being led by Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland, which is now calling for anonymous submission from LGBTQ+ people about their youth experience.  

How to Create Your Story  
Get as creative as you like! Your stories may take any form you like, including written, musical, 3D art, drawing, painting, fabric art, poetry etc. There are no limits to how you express your story – the more creative the better!  

Personal stories can be shared through an online form, and are encouraged to be written around one of the following themes:  

• Queer joy 

• Finding community/friendships  

• Self-discovery 

• Light in the dark – reality of being LGBTQ+ with the positive and negative aspects. 

Anyone can submit a personal story, but it must be based on experiences while under the age of 18 years old. This is a project aimed at sharing and exploring common experience for LGBTQ+ youth, so it’s important that they are presented in an appropriate way for young people aged 14 to 17.  
 

The deadline for submission of stories is Friday, 27 June 2025. For more details on the project and to access the submission form, click here.