It Gets Better
It Gets Better is a project combating GBLT teen suicides by showing adolescents struggling with their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, that life won't always be like high school. That the bullying they are facing ends. That they can find life, love, a family, acceptance and happiness if they just hold on a little longer and don't give up.
Here is a fantastic article on it from the New York Times on the project: a YouTube channel where people can talk about their experiences and share optimism with young people who need it.
It was started by Dan Savage, a local author/journalist probably most famous for his advice column "Savage Love" who is an openly gay man who has been with his husband for 16 years and has a 13 year old adopted son. I've always been very impressed with him as human being (He took the time to personally meet with a former friend of mine who was struggling with his own sexual orientation after he called in to his radio show) but this really solidified that for me.
I highly recommend watching his video, the first link in this post, which is his message to teens and the original video for the project. It's only been up 5 days and already over 100 other videos have been added, with other people chiming in with their own messages of hope.
I haven't been a teen for years, but the video really struck a chord with me and very nearly made me cry. I never faced any bullying while in school, but it's never easy struggling with your sexual orientation during the years of your life that are already filled with enough angst and confusion. Before I really came to terms with my bisexuality, I spent my junior high years thinking I was only into women and came out to my parents as a lesbian at 14. And though I was never picked on, I felt so incredibly alone, like I was the only gay teenager in the world. I read any books about gay teenagers I could find. I sought out friends on the internet. There was even a period when I clipped every single article from the newspaper that spoke about gay rights, just to find something, anything, to prove that I wasn't alone out there.
My 14 year-old self would have found so much comfort in these videos. So here I am sharing them, passing them on. Hoping that maybe you will too. Because there is some 14 year old out there, maybe that you know, that needs to see this. Needs to see that it does get better. Before it's too late.
You gotta give 'em hope. -Harvey Milk
Here is a fantastic article on it from the New York Times on the project: a YouTube channel where people can talk about their experiences and share optimism with young people who need it.
It was started by Dan Savage, a local author/journalist probably most famous for his advice column "Savage Love" who is an openly gay man who has been with his husband for 16 years and has a 13 year old adopted son. I've always been very impressed with him as human being (He took the time to personally meet with a former friend of mine who was struggling with his own sexual orientation after he called in to his radio show) but this really solidified that for me.
I highly recommend watching his video, the first link in this post, which is his message to teens and the original video for the project. It's only been up 5 days and already over 100 other videos have been added, with other people chiming in with their own messages of hope.
I haven't been a teen for years, but the video really struck a chord with me and very nearly made me cry. I never faced any bullying while in school, but it's never easy struggling with your sexual orientation during the years of your life that are already filled with enough angst and confusion. Before I really came to terms with my bisexuality, I spent my junior high years thinking I was only into women and came out to my parents as a lesbian at 14. And though I was never picked on, I felt so incredibly alone, like I was the only gay teenager in the world. I read any books about gay teenagers I could find. I sought out friends on the internet. There was even a period when I clipped every single article from the newspaper that spoke about gay rights, just to find something, anything, to prove that I wasn't alone out there.
My 14 year-old self would have found so much comfort in these videos. So here I am sharing them, passing them on. Hoping that maybe you will too. Because there is some 14 year old out there, maybe that you know, that needs to see this. Needs to see that it does get better. Before it's too late.
You gotta give 'em hope. -Harvey Milk