Read This, Save Lives has been written by 16 year old Sameer Jha to help teachers create classrooms and schools where gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer students can thrive. This book has deep personal relevance for Sameer, because he was severely bullied for being different in elementary and middle school. As he grew older, he learned more about his own identity and came out as queer and trans. He found acceptance, as well as a new purpose: to put an end to anti-LGBTQ+ bullying in schools. Today, Sameer has become an activist, an educator, and the founder of a non-profit called The Empathy Alliance. He is a Congressional Silver Medal recipient, has been named one of the top 10 trans youth activists in America, and has reached over 1 million people with his message promoting LGBTQ+ student safety. This book tells the story of Sameer’s journey, using specific incidents to illustrate important lessons about LGBTQ+ youth needs and how to meet them. Find more than a 100 actionable tips created with busy, resource constrained teachers in mind. An entire chapter is devoted to an extraordinary teacher who has transformed her own school using many of the same principles included in this guide. Read This, Save Lives is brimming with expert quotes, sobering statistics, cutting edge research, critical terminology, real world case studies, and resources from some of the best LGBTQ+ rights organizations in the country. Get ready to be inspired by one of the few books on the topic of LGBTQ+ youth safety that has actually been written by an LGBTQ+ youth! Praise for Read This, Save Lives A must read for all educators and everyone else who is interested in making the classroom LGBTQ+ inclusive and safe. Through storytelling, referenced stats, and interviews with LGBTQ+ mental health experts, Sameer does an excellent job of providing a step by step approach to creating a safe and welcoming classroom any student would desire. Kudos to Sameer and his outstanding writing skills. Classrooms and lives will be positively impacted by the information in this book! ―Ronald Holt, Psychiatrist, Author, LGBTQ Mental Health Expert We are so proud to call Sameer Jha part of our HRC family. Check out this HRC Foundation Youth Ambassador's first book, a must-read as students head#BackToSchool. ―Human Rights Campaign An invaluable resource! Loved reading this honest and often-times brutal account of Sameer's experience, so similar to so many nonconforming children all over the world. The guide is filled with personal stories and actionable advice, designed to help build empathy and provide tools for educators to better meet the needs of ALL students, not just those who conform to normative ideas of gender and sexuality! ―Naqiya Hussain, Educator Praise for Sameer Jha I consider Sameer an integral youth leader in the Oakland LGBT community. We need more people like him to step up and make a difference in our world. ―Mayor of Oakland, Libby Schaaf Sameer is a bright and brilliant youth. He passionately fights for the causes he believes in and stands up for others. Through all the work I have done with him, I've found him to be reliable, enthusiastic, and trustworthy. Sameer is going places and will have a bright future advocating for human rights! ―Katey Aquilina, The Tyler Clementi Foundation Sameer Jha is just one of those young people that gives you hope. He will be a leader who will stand for things. He amplifies the voices of other LGBT people and helps us to better understand and support them. ―Dr. Vincent Pompei, Human Rights Campaign Sameer is a committed LGBTQ youth activist. He is an active member of GSA Network's NorCal Youth Council, contributing to youth-led campaigns and advocacy to combat discrimination. A dependable and sharp young person, he leads workshops and speaks passionately about diversity and inclusion. ― Aldo M. Gallardo, The GSA Network Sameer is well spoken, organized, thoughtful, and effective. He is already changing the world for the better, and any organization or company would be lucky to have him and his skills working for you. ―Ross Murray, GLAAD Sameer has been an outstanding advocate for all students, especially the LGBTQ community at Hopkins Junior High. Because of Sameer, we now have a growing and thriving GSA, and our students are so excited and passionate about helping and educating our school community. I am extremely impressed with Sameers professional yet personable demeanor, public speaking skills, and the wealth of resources and knowledge that he can share with us. If you are wondering about where to start, do not hesitate to ask for help from Sameer! ―Ms. Amalia Kim, Hopkins Junior High Sameer is one of the most reliable, enthusiastic, and intelligent students I've had the pleasure to collaborate with! Sameer is a Student Collaboration Team Member for the Youth in Motion program at Frameline that I oversee, and I can't recommend Sameer enough. ―Daniel Moretti, Frameline Socia