Photo: Ellen Degeneres Courtesy, YouTube.
By DMITRY RASHNITSOV,
In the wake of five suicides by gay teenagers in September, celebrities and politicians are participating in a YouTube video campaign launched by Seattlebased sex columnist, Dan Savage to help kids understand that they are not the only ones who had to endure bullying and harassment growing up.
“There were no gay people in my family and no openly gay people at my school, but I was picked on because I liked musicals and I was obviously gay and some kids didn’t like that and I did get harassed,” Savage said in the candid, 8- minute video.
Since Sept. 21, the YouTube channel, which can be found at http://www.you tube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject, has had more than 1.4 million visitors viewing the more than 1,000 videos that people have submitted.
The project was sparked by the recent suicides of Raymond Chase, 19; Tyler Clementi, 18; Billy Lucas, 15; Asher Brown, 13 and Seth Walsh, 13.
Some of the celebrities participating include: Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris, Tim Gunn from “Project Runway,” Chris Colfer from “Glee” and blogger Perez Hilton.
Photos Courtesy YouTube, Lifetime Chris Colfer(L) Tim Gunn(C) Perez Hilton(R)
“Nine out of 10 gay teenagers experience bullying and harassment at school and gay teens are four times likelier to attempt suicide,” Savage said. “Many LGBT kids who do kill themselves live in rural areas, exurbs and suburban areas, places with no gay organizations or services for queer kids.”
Some within the GLBT community are criticizing the project.
“However, if we keep telling suicidal people that their situation will ‘get better’ without actually taking any steps to improve it — if we don’t provide support and medical care for people with depression; if we don’t help people who are being abused to find a safe place; if we don’t make sure that the systematic, community- wide abuse of GLBT youth is eliminated — then belief alone can wear thin,” writes Sady Doyle, a freelance writer and blogger.
Zoe Melisa, another gay blogger lists her top 13 reasons why she doesn’t like the project at Queer Watch.
“The rhetoric about being accepted by family encourages folks to come out — even when coming out isn’t a safe idea,” Melisa writes. “There is no infrastructure to catch you when your family reacts poorly. There is no truly benevolent queer family, waiting to catch you, ready to sacrifice so you can thrive. For a lot of folks, coming out doesn’t only mean that your parents will promise to hate your lovers — it means violence, homelessness, abuse.”
Even in the wake of criticism, President Barack Obama’s administration is getting behind the project and pushing the message that bullying in high schools, middle schools and colleges needs to stop.
“No young person should have to endure a life of relentless taunts and harassment just because they’re gay,” said Obama Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett during the Human Rights Campaign’s annual national dinner. “On behalf of President Obama, I want to make clear that this administration is firmly committed to working with you and other advocates. For we all have to ensure that we are creating an environment in our schools, our communities, and our country, that is safe for every person, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non- Discrimination Act were introduced in Congress in 2009, but lawmakers have not been in a rush to tackle the issue.
“The Department of Health and Human Services has announced an unprecedented National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention,” Jarrett said. “This alliance brings together a wide range of public and private partners. And it’s going to make sure people have access to help, and to resources when they are in crisis. One of its specific goals is preventing suicide in at-risk groups, including LGBT youth.
