The You-Are-Loved Chalk Message Project was an annual US-wide initiative that combated hateful rhetoric aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (

LGBTQ LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...

) community through the use of positive, uplifting chalk messages. The project's mission was to send messages of hope to members of the LGBTQ community who were struggling with depression or feelings of isolation. It served as a suicide prevention awareness campaign for LGBTQ college students. The You-Are-Loved Chalk Message Project was founded at Drew University in 2005 in response to personal tragedy. It went nationwide in 2009 as a suicide prevention awareness campaign for LGBTQ college students. The project continued annually each October until 2012. In May 2012, the Chalk Message Project became part of

Active Minds Active Minds is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health, especially among young adults, via peer-to-peer dialogue and interaction. Active Minds was founded by Alison Malmon in 2003, after her older brother died ...

' National Day Without Stigma program.

Purpose

The Chalk Message Project raised awareness about

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...

prevention for LGBTQ college students According to the Trevor Project (a 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention lifeline), LGBTQ youth are four to eight times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth. While little research has been done on suicide among LGBTQ college students specifically, a 2010 study from

Campus Pride Campus Pride is an American national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded by M. Chad Wilson, Sarah E. Holmes and Shane L. Windmeyer in 2001 which serves lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and ally student leaders and/or campus o ...

suggested a "chilly" climate for America's LGBTQ college students. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students in general. According to mental health advocacy groups like

, over 1,100 college students die by suicide each year.

History

The project first began on the campus of

Drew University Drew University is a private university in Madison, New Jersey, United States. It has a wooded campus. As of fall 2020, more than 2,200 students were pursuing degrees at the university's three schools. While affiliated with the Methodism, Me ...

in 2005. It went nationwide on October 5, 2009 and was observed by universities across the country. By its sophomore year (2010), the campaign had grown considerably larger in size. In addition to gaining thousands of followers, the Chalk Message Project attracted positive reactions from the

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that advocates for research and education around suicide, based in New York City, with a public policy office based in Washington, D.C. The organization's s ...

, Active Minds,

NOH8 Campaign The NOH8 Campaign (NOH8 meaning "No Hate") is a charitable organization whose mission is to promote LGBTQ marriage, gender and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest. The campaign was created as photographic ...

, and occurred in hundreds of locations across country. In 2012, the Chalk Message Project became part of Active Minds' National Day Without Stigma programming.

References

{{reflist

External links

You-Are-Loved Chalk Message Project Website
LGBTQ events in the United States LGBTQ organizations based in the United States