【Kalakal (2025)】

In a new video message released Thursday,Kalakal (2025) a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer high school students made a bold request of Donald J. Trump: Become a "president for all" instead of resorting to divisive politics and name-calling.

SEE ALSO: Why Trump's presidency will require absolutely all your courage

One by one, the teens describe themselves and what's at stake for them in this new political era.

The election may be over, they say, but their stories are not. They want to "exist safely," "see our differences celebrated," and "to thrive in school and society."

The students tell Trump that they're listening and watching as he takes the oath of office and swears to uphold the constitution — "the one that says all people are equal."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The video was created by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and the teens who appear serve on the advocacy organization's student council. Alongside the video, GLSEN also launched a campaign called 100 Days of Kindness.

That project is designed to send messages of support to LGBTQ youth worried about their personal safety and the goals of an administration that appears hostile to protecting their rights. The Republican Party's platform, adopted in July, opposes same-sex marriage and supports legislation that prevents transgender people from using the bathroom that reflect their gender identity.

Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN, told Mashablethat the video and campaign are a response to a spike in reports of school harassment and intimidation following Trump's victory.

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

"Even though there’s anger there, you have to find ways to turn that anger into power with positive action."

"For some reason these students thought they had license to attack their peers," said Byard. "All of us need to stand up together and make clear that’s not OK. Hopefully the incoming administration and president-elect will take opportunities to make clear that’s not what they meant."

The Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that tracks hate groups and speech, surveyed more than 10,000 educators in December, many of whom described the election's negative impact on school climate and reported an increase in the use of slurs in addition to incidents involving swastikas, Nazi salutes and Confederate flags.

Byard said the video and campaign are meant to help students meet a difficult challenge with the determination to improve their schools and communities.

"Even though there’s anger there, you have to find ways to turn that anger into power with positive action," she said.

The students in the video aren't deferential to Trump; some are sarcastic and flip, while others seem guarded or optimistic. Including that range of voices, Byard said, is an essential part of letting people speak "authentically" about their feelings and fears, provided they do so respectfully.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Byard knows its impossible to predict what will catch Trump's attention — or how he'll respond. Still, despite their misgivings about Trump's victory and his administration's priorities, the students have high hopes for his presidency.

They also have a few aspirational names in mind for him: "Hope bringer. Equality advocate. Community unifier."

Trump may seem unlikely to embrace those words and actions, but Byard believes change is the product of deliberate thinking.

"The first step is always to ground yourself in hope and human connection and a positive vision of where we’re trying to go," she said. "That's the basis that allows you to keep putting one foot in front of the other."

---

Featured Video For You

---

The Obamas got real emotional at the president's farewell address

---

Topics LGBTQ Donald Trump Politics

• Life
• Deals
• Science
• Digital Culture
• Entertainment
• Social Good
• Games
• Shopping

• Antifascism and the Left’s Fear of Power
• These 2 old 'Game of Thrones' visions basically predicted Episode 5
• The FCC unveils its plan to stop the never
• Actors lampoon Constance Wu's reaction to her show being renewed
• Condo-Maximum
• YTMND, one of the internet's earliest meme sites, shuts down forever
• Will 'Game of Thrones' off Cersei on Mother's Day? Some fans seem to think so.
• Cleganebowl was a bright spot in a dismal 'Game of Thrones' season
• The Crown Prince
• Following 'Nanette', Hannah Gadsby returns to Netflix

• Russia's biggest gun maker thinks its electric car can take on Tesla
• 'Leaked' LG V40 press renders are probably fake
• How to take part in 'Unite for Justice' protests and #StopKavanaugh
• Jaguar's classic E
• This Twitter thread is here to call you out for never shutting up about that one classic you read
• This artist does the most detailed pen drawings you've ever seen
• Carpooling with a complete stranger: my one
• 'Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice' kicked my ass
• Chrissy Teigen crowns the best episode in TV history. Hint: It's from 'The Office.'
• Eagle celebrates Fourth of July by freeing itself and flying away

• Heart in a Black Box
• Bitcoin surges past $8,000. Is this 2017 all over again?
• 10 things Trump denounces more than hate crimes and white supremacists
• Trump might sign an order that effectively bans Huawei in the U.S.
• The Palace and the Storm
• HTC's new, cheaper blockchain phone will run a full Bitcoin node
• What Apple's Supreme Court case means for the future of the App Store
• The Vita Coco pee jar was just another Brand Twitter stunt
• Of Damages and Dog Whistles
• 19 people share the niche things that turn them on

• Cogito Zero Sum
• How 'Game of Thrones' became the worst possible version of itself
• What to buy for the person in your life whose only interest is Kylie Jenner's lips
• HP's new gaming laptop has 2 screens
• Operation Snowflake
• I, Jeff Bezos, am a big boy with a big truck. VROOOOM!
• 35 things to inspire you during your 2019 self
• 'Game of Thrones' star Pilou Asbæk responds to Season 8 criticism
• A Low, Dishonest Decade
• Car crash? These apps know — and can get you help right away.