I’m a big fan of the It Gets Better project and the many hundreds of videos it has produced. While the project has been hugely praised, it also has many critics. There are those who say it doesn’t do enough, that when you leave school everything, generally, gets better, and that it gets better a lot sooner if you’re white and middle class. True or not, this campaign is doing something. What are you doing?

For those in the “it’s not doing enough” camp, there is the Make It Better project. Or why not do something yourself.

The project, launched by Dan Savage, in September was sparked by a “sudden spate of LGBT teen suicides” — primarily in the USA. This is a terrible thing, and with the statistics on gay suicides being much higher than straight teen suicides, it’s an issue that must be tackled.

Lately there have been a number of anti-gay discrimination campaigns online and off, including FCKH8 and NOH8 (started by photographer Adam Bouska), and these are truly great to see, each with a strong message of equality and respect. And while most people will say they do have respect and do believe in equality, plenty will still turn around and say that it’s wrong based on a religious dogma set about hundreds of years ago, apparently written by God himself. Yeah, right…

More than this just being about LGBT bullying, these projects are about eliminating all forms of bullying from schools, to give hope to young gay teens and for all people of difference: to spread the message that being different is good. Stand out, be yourself. Don’t be ashamed. Many of the videos talk about this in a big way, with celebrities telling their story of growing up, coming out, and now being successful. Whether on a large or small scale, everyone can have success.

I always remember when I left primary school (age 12), my Mum told me I will look back on those days and remember them as the best days of my life. I immediately told her that wouldn’t be true. They were my worst. I was bullied in school. A lot. Although it’s been a long process, I now enjoy the fact that I take no interest in what people think. I don’t live by the doctrines of others’.

School was a terrible place. I hated going in each and every day to face the assholes all around me and I know that campaigns and projects like these would have helped me massively; to become more comfortable and secure in myself. I’m grateful of the internet for how it has empowered me. I’m grateful of the social network I have, both online and off, where I know I won’t be bullied for being me. Everyone should have that.

Many of the It Gets Better videos are extremely emotional, with celebrities, people in good jobs and positions of power revealing aspects about their youth that they were able to overcome; such as bullying, depression and in some cases attempted suicides. One of those with the greatest amount of emotion is from Joel Burns, an openly gay Texas city councilman.

Many other high-project people have made videos including Barack Obama, Michael Urie, Hilary Clinton, Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters), Chris Crocker, Brothers and Sisters cast/crew, Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen DeGeneres. The latest note-worthy video is from Pixar, released on 22nd November — very emotional in parts, and just increasing the amount of respect I have for the fine people at the studio, as well as adding to number of organisations to become apart of the project along with Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Canadian Broadcasting Corpoation (CBC), Gap, and others.

My motto: Those that matter don’t mind; those that mind don’t matter.

A few links:
Coming out stories
Fuckyeahlgbt
LGBT GMH (Gives Me Hope)
LGBT Laughs

Tagged: equality, LGBT | 7 comments »