Donald Trump's presidency has rattled young LGBTQ people. In the immediate aftermath of the election, calls to queer youth suicide prevention hotlines spiked. "[Young] people are very anxious about what happened," said Steve Mendelsohn of The Trevor Project. "People are likely scared that their rights are going to be taken away."
The months that followed provided no solace. Trump stacked his administration with anti-LGBTQ leaders and has implemented myriad policy changes that harm queer people. Some evidence even suggests Trump's hostility toward LGBTQ people is emboldening homophobic and transphobic attitudes across the U.S. — and the world.
Ron Holt, an openly gay psychiatrist, was worried about how this administration could be affecting young LGBTQ people.
So he felt inspired to fight back against the bigotry — with coloring books.
In 2017, Holt and his husband developed coloring books for LGBTQ teens and adults.
On each page, colorers see abstract, calming mandala designs complemented with affirming messages and quotes from inspiring leaders.
"When [my husband] Bill and I came out, there weren't any affirmative books available," Holt explains in an email. "We therefore created the affirmative coloring book that we wished we had when we were young and struggling with self acceptance and self love."
A few pages of Holt's Pride coloring book with the designs colored in. Photos courtesy of Ron Holt.
"I am worthy and I fully accept myself," one message reads in the book.
"You are unique," another relays. "Allow yourself to fully embrace all of who you are and become aware of all the ways that you love."
"Even though it may not be safe to be out to others, it is important to be out to yourself," a message states. "When you remain hidden from yourself, you are in effect saying, 'I am not worthy of being acknowledged.'"
Holt's coloring book concept ended up impressing all the right people at "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
If you're going to impress somebody, she's hard to beat, right?
Holt was selected to be in the crowd at the comedian's 60th birthday show taping in January, when audience members were chosen because of their generosity through the show's Million Acts of Kindness campaign.
As Holt learned while in attendance, all guests were given prize money: "[DeGeneres] suggested we 'pay it forward,'" he said. "Her spirit of generosity motivates much of what I do."
With his prize money, Holt decided to take his coloring books up a notch.
Photo courtesy of Ron Holt.
He launched a GoFundMe page in March to help get his Pride coloring books into more hands.
As the fundraiser points out, Holt is supplying the books to advocacy organizations that could benefit — like gay-straight alliance groups in schools, Pride Month event organizers, and various LGBTQ nonprofits.
And lots of groups were interested.
[rebelmouse-image 19346949 dam="1" original_size="750x500" caption="Although the books read "adult" on their covers, they've been created for teenagers and up, Holt explained. Photo courtesy of Ron Holt." expand=1]Although the books read "adult" on their covers, they've been created for teenagers and up, Holt explained. Photo courtesy of Ron Holt.
As of May 10, over 4,360 books had been ordered and mailed to 136 organizations, according to Holt. He's working hard to ensure the fundraiser keeps up with the incredible demand.
"All money raised will go directly to providing coloring books to those who need them most," Holt wrote on GoFundMe, noting that neither he nor his husband is profiting off donations. "Our goal is to make sure each dollar goes directly to help these young people."
The books' purpose is simple: to help young LGBTQ people remember that being queer is a beautiful thing.
"This campaign's goal is to make sure these youth know they are not alone, they are loved, and it is OK to be who they are," Holt explains.
Photo courtesy of Ron Holt.
"LGBTQ young people need our help now — more than ever," he concluded on GoFundMe. "Together, we WILL make a difference in their lives."
To learn more about Holt's coloring book campaign, visit GoFundMe.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.