Trans Singer Shea Diamond Dedicates New Power-Ballad to 'It Gets Better'

Rising New York-based star Shea Diamond has long been an advocate for the oppressed, having previously spent 10 years in prison for committing a crime while working to get funds to support her MTF transition. Reflecting on her personal experience, Diamond has recorded a powerful new song, called "Seen It All," dedicated to the "It Gets Better" project, with a focus on transgender youth.

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"A lot of us ran away from home," Diamond says. "A lot of us committed suicide. So during that experience, you know, first starting my transition, I felt like I was trapped. And I couldn't live in that existence anymore. I felt like I was living a lie. And I felt like the people around me were all happy. Me--I couldn't find happiness because I couldn't be myself."

Despite all the hardships, Diamond's message for the young LGBTQ community is still optimistic. "Don't give up hope," she says. "I thought that life was over with--doing 10 years in prison. So for me, it's to tell the young people not to give up."

Listen to "Seen It All," below.