In response to the suicide of Billy Lucas, a fifteen-year-old from Indiana who hanged himself after he was intensely bullied by his classmates, Dan Savage has started a YouTube channel for LGBT adults to share their stories of being bullied at school, and to assure despairing teens that it does get better.
From his project description:
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.
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.
To participate, if you are a LGBT adult, make a video, upload it to YouTube, and email the url to mail (at) savagelove (dot) net. If you aren't an LGBT adult, help your favorite LGBT adult make a video. And spread the word. Make sure the teens in your life know about this resource. It could save a life.
I can't tell you how cool I think this is. I wasn't bullied in school over my sexuality, but it took me a long time to be comfortable with who I was. I was one of the lucky ones. I was lucky enough to grow up in a tolerant family in a liberal metropolitan area, with adult gay and lesbian role models. A lot of teens aren't that lucky, and these are the ones we're trying to reach. My heart breaks every time I hear about one of these teens who have killed themselves because of bullying, and I wish we could reach them and tell them that things will get better, that they will grow up, move to someplace better, and make true friends and family of the heart, they just have to hold on.
This is our chance. Make a video. Help give teens hope that it will get better.
More Resources:
New York Times article about the It Gets Better Project, from September 22, 2010
The Trevor Project, a resource for LGBTQ teens in crisis. The Trevor Lifeline can be reached at (866) 488-7386.
GLSEN The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
Hopeline. Their crisis line can be reached at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
