Dan Savage does not exactly need me to boost his signal, but here's a wonderful new project that I have to mention. In Savage's words:
I wish I could have told Billy that it gets better. I wish I could have told him that, however bad things were, however isolated and alone he was, it gets better.
But gay adults aren't allowed to talk to these kids. Schools and churches don't bring us in to talk to teenagers who are being bullied. Many of these kids have homophobic parents who believe that they can prevent their gay children from growing up to be gay—or from ever coming out—by depriving them of information, resources, and positive role models.
Why are we waiting for permission to talk to these kids? We have the ability to talk directly to them right now. We don't have to wait for permission to let them know that it gets better. We can reach these kids.
Billy Lucas was a fifteen-year-old in Indiana who hanged himself after being bullied for being gay.
So Savage has started a YouTube channel, the It Gets Better Project, and is encouraging adults to make and submit videos that say: it gets better. Here's his video with his husband Terry:
"You gotta give 'em hope." --Harvey Milk
It gets better.
Spread the word.
My work computer's sound is really crappy. I'll have to watch that when I get back home.
Posted by: Serge | September 22, 2010 at 07:24 PM
I just watched it.
Neat.
Posted by: Serge | September 23, 2010 at 03:48 AM
So now pass it on. Spread the word. More videos needed.
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | September 23, 2010 at 07:58 AM
I've passed a link to your post to two people I know, and I now have an entry in my blog.
The best thing about High-School is that it eventually ends. It's no fun place for those who are Different.
Posted by: Serge | September 23, 2010 at 09:50 AM
Pharyngula posted the video on its site too:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/09/it_gets_better.php#comments
Posted by: Serge | September 24, 2010 at 11:58 AM