With marriage equality expanding internationally and more U.S. states approving anti-discrimination legislation, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is gradually gaining new levels of validity and recognition in the eyes of the mainstream public slowly, but with certainty.

Given that ever-growing list of global LGBT victories, it's easy to overlook how difficult life can be for teens and young adults who are still coming to terms with their sexuality. What follows is a heartbreaking collection of youth submissions from the Whisper app, which allows users to express themselves anonymously.

According to Whisper's Head Of News Slade Sohmer, the series is comprised of user submissions from Fredericksburg, Virginia; Avalon, Pennsylvania; and Vass, North Carolina; others came from Ireland and Saudi Arabia, among other locations.