It Gets Better is an online video channel founded by Dan Savage in September 2010, in response to the suicide of Billy Lucas and a number of other teenagers who were bullied because they were gay or their peers suspected that they were gay.
Its goal is to prevent suicide among LGBT youth by having gay adults convey the message that these teens' lives will improve.
The project has grown rapidly, with over 200 videos uploaded in the first week from adults of all sexual orientations, including many celebrities. The project's YouTube channel reached the 650 video limit in the next week, and is now organized on its own website, the It Gets Better Project.
Savage wrote, about the founding of the project, "I wish I could have talked to this kid for five minutes. 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."
The project does not accept donations, but directs potential donors to The Trevor Project, which operates a crisis and suicide prevention helpline.
“I cannot prevent anyone from getting angry, or mad, or frustrated. I can only hope that they’ll turn that anger and frustration and madness into something positive, so that two, three, four, five hundred will step forward, so the gay doctors will come out, the gay lawyers, the gay judges, gay bankers, gay architects … I hope that every professional gay will say ‘enough’, come forward and tell everybody, wear a sign, let the world know. Maybe that will help.”
~ Harvey Milk, 1978
pls tag your photo/s [wear-purple] for the awareness project
thanks
this is flippin awesome, brave, and supportive! Thank you for putting yourself out there, so that maybe someone somewhere will know that they are not alone! faved
No offense, Jayds, ... But too bad you are gay and I'm an old, happily married hetero woman! Lol... Jaydee, you are the best - beautiful inside & out! I'll try to get a purple shot out for you, my friends, Matt & Mark, & everyone else. Hugs, my friend!
I've been happy to stand by your side from the outset, Jaydee! With a gay daughter and many close and dear gay friends, I only single them out that way here to show my solidarity, but to me, they're only a "daughter" and "dear friends" in everyday life! You're beautiful, brave and a favorite in our community!
This is great, Jaydee...
You really inspirate me to do a gay-and-proud-picture, too. I missed the day I should have done it, but...well. Some words should be spread every day, so let's not talk about my really bad time management and the confusion in my head. ;-)
(...Maybe I should do a "gay-and-confused"-picture. Confused about everything, but not about my gayness, that's for sure. *g*)
On the day, I wore my only purple shirt with a purple jacket in support. This was also on Facebook and I was invited to join up; which I did immediately.
I also went to school with kids who were gay but felt they couldn't express it due to the fear they'd be bullied. They felt they were on the outer as it was anyway because they felt different. I was a fringe person too because I didn't fit into any one group because I'm a writer... so I became friends with one or two of them. It wasn't until after school they came out of the closet and felt free enough to be themselves completely.
Well done! I'm glad you are so courageous like Christine said! It's nothing to be ashamed of and kids shouldn't be bullied about it. I'm friends with many gay people and there is nothing different about them! I still love them all and I treat them no differently then anyone else. It heartbreaking people get bullied about it. We are all so proud of you.
fave =)
You really inspirate me to do a gay-and-proud-picture, too. I missed the day I should have done it, but...well. Some words should be spread every day, so let's not talk about my really bad time management and the confusion in my head. ;-)
(...Maybe I should do a "gay-and-confused"-picture. Confused about everything, but not about my gayness, that's for sure. *g*)
I also went to school with kids who were gay but felt they couldn't express it due to the fear they'd be bullied. They felt they were on the outer as it was anyway because they felt different. I was a fringe person too because I didn't fit into any one group because I'm a writer... so I became friends with one or two of them. It wasn't until after school they came out of the closet and felt free enough to be themselves completely.
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once again A BIG SMILE FROM ME!!! thank you sooo much for the support, lovving comments and favs ....
@pinktornado39 LOLS laura...... well high FIVE then .... no offense taken HUGS =)
WE LIVE IN ONE WORLD, WE BREATHE THE SAME AIR, SO LETS TREAT EACH OTHER EQUAL .... HUGS ALL!!! =)
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thanks joanne, christine, heather, tess and stephanie ..... =) HUGS back! =) have a great weekend!
This is just perfect for the purple cause, Jaydz. I admire you for just being you. A very creative shot once again!
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thanks soo much guys!!! =)