I found that article... interesting. While I reluctantly agree that it may serve as comfort food for "young, liberal, educated urbanites" to assume that is how we have always been is to ignore straight up facts about being a member of the LGBT community where so many have actually attempted suicide let alone seriously thought about it - to suggest that we're a community where most are sitting in some sort of ivory tower is just plain wrong when so many of us have been down in the trenches at one point - which is where the "real" It Gets Better videos come from... those in the community who have been there before. I understand that the author was trying to shed light on the serious issue of why this is happening with in the U.S. and how we can attempt to make some real change in regards to calling out culprits that make people think it's okay to bully someone because they are gay; DADT, opposition to same-sex marriage and other LGBT rights, even news agencies giving equal voice to unaccredited homophobic zealots (as Dan Savage attacked CNN and others for doing recently). But the heart of the It's Get Better campaign is to show teens that people have been where they are right now and that they survived and are better for it. While there certainly have been the rash of celebs (many who aren't even gay and could never possibly have known what it was like) there are many other heart felt videos from everyday people, or people at Google and Pixar. Perhaps if an organization like Wal-mart were to make an It Gets Better vid then I'd have an issue with it but the companies that have are companies that have led the way with same-sex partner benefits, non-discrimination policies, and LGBT peer groups. They are not out there contributing to Prop 8. Sorry for the rant, just my two cents.
Jonohaz   posted 08.12.10

Thanks for writing this Tom...I wondered if anyone would take a good look WITHOUT the rose-colored glasses. I'm transgendered (born female transitioned to male). I was one of those kids bullied unceasingly from the 5th grade on through H.S. Every day it was hell to go to school and every day I thought about one of two options...kill myself or kill my tormentors...and some days I thought about doing both. I never attempted either because I was too scared of my parents, I know it sounds lame, but it's true...I was more afraid of my parents, and of them finding out about me, than I was of dying. Instead I became depressed, my grades dropped from Honor Roll to barely passing, I had no friends, I withdrew from everyone and everything except animals...my dog and cat saved my life. I left home at 18 and never looked back. "It" didn't get better, "I" got better. "It" is still the same because I'm here to tell the story along with thousands of others...I graduated from H.S. in 1974 and it's the same now, if not worse, than it was then. Telling kids who face bullying-Hell every day of their lives that it gets better...is a Lie. But giving them the tools to protect themselves and the knowledge that they can survive and live their own lives is giving them the truth...and that's what they need. Give them options, not sound-byte slogans. Do the video's work? I hope so, but I wonder just how many kids we're going to lose because they kept waiting for the day "it gets better" rather than learning how to defend themselves, how to communicate, learning who to trust, and how to advocate for themselves. So for anyone reading this who might like to do a video for victims of bullying...tell them the truth and then offer your ear, your time, and your attention. Those things will save a life...
Patrick   posted 07.12.10

Great article. You make some really good points about the It Gets Better Project. I think the project is great, but I always think about the here and now. I am an Ally of the LGBT community and I have seen friends torn because of bullying. I stand up for them, try to "councel" my friends, but it still isn't easy. Telling them it will get better is nice, but it's not that easy for many. Like you mentioned in the article, most LGBT can't just runaway, so they are forced to stay where they are constantly being picked on and harassed. If I had to deal with that day in and day out, just waiting for things to get better, I'm not sure if I'd make it. We all need to start doing something now to help. Once again, a good point you brought up, PIXAR did a video for It Gets Better, but you know damn well they won't get involved with "Don't Ask Don't Tell." People and corporations with power want to look like they are helping people and want to get some good publicity, but we all know the truth is that many won't really stand up for LGBT rights because of the lash they will get. It sickens me. Thanks for writing this article. I plan to share it.
jessb283   posted 07.12.10