What is It Gets Better?
The It Gets Better project was created by Dan Savage in response to the stories he heard about gay teens taking their life due to bullying. 1 It is a YouTube video collection of people (ranging from everyday people to celebrities and politicians) telling their own stories or offering support and comfort. 2
The website is a place to support gay, lesbian, bi, or trans teens. The website strives to show these individuals that love and happiness are possible in their future. The project asks people to submit their stories in order to give hope and comfort to LBGT (lesbian, bi, gay, trans) teens.3 On the website you can submit a video, watch the videos already submitted by users, and take the pledge by entering your name .
The It Gets Better Message and Inspiration
According to the website, "Many LGBT youth can't picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. They can't imagine a future for themselves. So let's show them what our lives are like, let's show them what the future may hold in store for them." 4
The website asks users to take this pledge:
"Everyone deserves to be respected for who they are. I pledge to spread this message to my friends, family and neighbors. I'll speak up against hate and intolerance whenever I see it, at school and at work. I'll provide hope for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other bullied teens by letting them know that "It Gets Better." " 5
The project calls upon people to remember teens like Justin Aeberg, Billy Lucas, Cody Barker, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, Raymond Chase, and Tyler Clementi, who have all taken their lives after being bullied.
The Trevor Project Suicide Prevention Help Line
The project is now linked to California's suicide prevention help-line (the Trevor Project) The Trevor Project number and website are listed on the It Gets Better website under the Get Help section. 6 The help line reports the number of calls has increased dramatically since its association with the It Gets Better project. 7
High Profile Contributors
President Obama submitted a video to the sites saying that he doesn't know "what it's it's like to be picked on for being gay. But I do know what it's like to grow up feeling like sometimes you don't belong. It's tough. And for a lot of kids, the sense of being alone or apart, I know it can just wear on you." 8
Other high profile names who have contributed to the project including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Texas Councilman Joel Burns, and Google staffers. 9
