This Guy Sent Over 8000 Cards to LGBTQ+ People For the Holidays

Many LGBTQ people still have a tough time around the holidays, often spending time with family that doesn’t accept them the way they are, or not being able to spend time with family at all for the same reason. But one 21-year-old is doing what he can to help others stave off that feeling of loneliness during what’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year.

Ellis Roberts-Wright started The Rainbow Cards Project four years ago, and every year, with the help of volunteers, he either sends holiday cards or birthday cards out to LGBTQ people who might need them.

“This year I sent 8000+ cards to LGBTQ+ people with unsupportive families to make them feel less alone at Christmas,” he tweeted last week, alongside a GoFundMe to raise money for postage for next year’s cards.

Roberts-Wright, who identifies as both bisexual and trans and goes by he/they pronouns, says his parents were very accepting of him when he came out to them, but he knows that other people may not have the same support.

“There are a lot of people who say ‘this is the only card I’ve gotten,’” he told DevonLive. “I’ve had so many people tell me they cried when they got it. A couple of people said it saved their lives because they felt so isolated.”

People can sign up to help write cards on The Rainbow Cards Project website, or if you don’t have the ability to donate your time, you can also donate money towards postage through the GoFundMe.

Roberts-Wright admitted that a lot of people tend to ask why he’s so focused on these cards when there are bigger problems facing LGBTQ people around the world.

But, he says, “it’s not the Christmas cards, it’s that their family doesn’t love and support them anymore.”