{"id":35562,"date":"2016-03-11T14:02:43","date_gmt":"2016-03-11T19:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/instagram-debuts-official-visibleme-video-channel-for-lgbt-youth-to-express-themselves\/"},"modified":"2016-03-11T14:02:43","modified_gmt":"2016-03-11T19:02:43","slug":"instagram-debuts-official-visibleme-video-channel-for-lgbt-youth-to-express-themselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/instagram-debuts-official-visibleme-video-channel-for-lgbt-youth-to-express-themselves\/","title":{"rendered":"Instagram debuts official #VisibleMe video channel for LGBT youth to express themselves"},"content":{"rendered":"

Instagram debuts official #VisibleMe video<\/a> channel for LGBT youth to express themselves<\/b><\/p>\n

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A few months ago, LGBT advocate Raymond Braun launched #VisibleMe<\/a>, an Instagram photo series dedicated to giving a platform to LGBT youth to share their stories and connect with each other. Young LGBT people have taken to Instagram to open up about body image, transitioning, coming out, bullying, dating, faith and more. View an archive of #VisibleMe photos: facebook.com\/visibleme<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"On Friday, March 11, Instagram debuted an official #VisibleMe video<\/a> channel inside of their in-app Explore page. When you click the #VisibleMe banner inside of the Instagram Explore page, it will direct you to an video<\/a> channel with more than 25 videos<\/a> from a passionate group of LGBT young people. Include in the videos<\/a> are viral star Brendan Jordan<\/a>, Ella Giselle<\/a> from I Am Cait, out college football player Conner Mertens<\/a>, video<\/a> influencer ThomasIsTrash<\/a>, and trans<\/a> activist Ellie Gaustria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is the first time that Instagram has ever featured an Explore video<\/a> channel exclusively dedicated to the LGBT community.<\/strong> \"https:\/\/ssl.gstatic.com\/ui\/v1\/icons\/mail\/images\/cleardot.gif\"<\/p>\n

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“#hellomynameis Raymond Braun (@raymondbraun) and I am 26 years old. I’m from a small town in Ohio and I knew there was something different about me for as long as I could remember. As soon as I got access to the Internet, I found a community which helped me gain the courage to come out to myself. Now my passion is to speak to anyone who was like me — that young LGBTQ kid who feels isolated or misunderstood. When I shared my story, I started receiving powerful messages from young LGBTQ people all around the world, and I thought, ‘I wish there was a way for me to share the hope, optimism and resilience in these incredible stories.’ I created an Instagram photo and video series called #VisibleMe with the goal of reflecting a spectrum of LGBTQ experiences, because the more times that young people tell their stories, the more we show that we have a lot of the same dreams, fears and aspirations as everyone else. When you grow up feeling different, like there’s something about you that isn’t seen as conventional or traditional, it gives you an openness to color outside the lines and chart your own life. I hope #VisibleMe encourages everyone to celebrate diversity and embrace what makes them different. We all have that spark within us.” To learn more, check out #VisibleMe on the Explore page and visit facebook.com\/visibleme. Photo of @raymondbraun by @jeysonpaez<\/a><\/p>\n

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

Raymond Braun said, “I hope this project provides a platform and voice to young people, helping them feel empowered and supported. And most importantly, I hope it shows LGBTQ youth that they are not alone and that they’re part of a community filled with creativity, diversity, resilience, strength, and passion.”<\/p>\n

Go to the Instagram in-app Explore page to see the videos<\/a>! <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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March 11, 2016<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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