It Gets Better

The It Gets Better project is the epitome of good news.  The concept is to reach out to the young gay community and convince them that life gets better.  In the teen years, "fitting in" is a full-time job.  I remember at about 13 years or so, my BFF's brother told her that when we got older, guys would appreciate the fact that we weren't slutty, but we actually felt insecure about it at the time.  Then in college, my brother told me (after I'd been rejected by a sorority) that pledging wasn't "me" at all and that someday, I'd be glad that I never endured that kind of hazing.  I believed them both, but it still hurt at the time.  I can't imagine getting publicly humiliated for anything sex-related... my heart goes out to these youngsters. 

Dan Savage, the inspiring editorial director of the Seattle weekly called The Stranger, and author of the syndicated column "Savage Love," launched the project on YouTube in September.  It includes video posts by Ellen DeGeneres, Sarah Silverman, President Barack Obama, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  The video messages are essentially "if you can just get through the next few years, It Gets Better.

"What I want to say is this - you are not alone. You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't do anything to deserve being bullied. And here is a whole world waiting for you, filled with possibilities," Obama said in his video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geyAFbSDPVk&feature=youtu.be

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 23, 2010 at 12:31 PM

    I love you...you always keep me interested and thinking

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 23, 2010 at 3:18 PM

    The big problem here is that we have a culture that fosters homophobia. It's not far off from theocratic states such as Iran where even exiting as a homosexual is a crime. Our antiquated sodomy laws, irrational prostitution laws, Prop 8, and the fact that every major organized religion labels homosexuality as a sin are all contributing factors. We need to wake up from this dark age mentality and think rationally.

    ReplyDelete

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