BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 09:47 PM

You are most welcome, mp, and thank you for your thoughtful posting. I agree we do need to end it all..all bullying. My first-grader grandson told me he felt sad for his friend the other day because two of the other little boys made fun of him because he didn't finish his writing letters as fast as they did. I was heartened my grandson understood and empathised, but disheartened to know it starts even that young. So cruel.

Cuilionn, thank you so much for posting. It is horrible, sad, and wrong that someone spewing such could be the next governor of the state where you and your partner live. May all those who are NOT tea party get out and vote against him on Election Day. My friends in Wyoming finally went to Canada, with both families in tow and lots of friends, where they married after, I think it was, 25 years together. We were all so happy for them, yet in their own state, there is no legal recognition. (One of them was published in "On My Honor: Lesbians Reflect on Their Scouting Experience.")

I agree with Ebbie, I think the world needs to keep hearing more and more first-hand accounts, when possible, and we can help it get better.

Thanks to you all.

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: GUEST,Cuilionn
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 08:54 PM

Thanks, folks--

The Trevor Project and other public acts of witness and solidarity are absolutely vital--not only for the young people who consider the pain of difference and rejection too hard to bear, but also for those of us who, as seasoned adults, still struggle with the same issues.

Don't misunderstand--I'm not planning any self-harm here--it's just that it's hard to smile and be strong all the time, to say, "we can endure" when you hear message after message of misunderstanding, ignorance, bigotry and hate. In my state, I have already ridden the roller-coaster of hope and despair too many times: I watched the legislature vote to approve marriage equality, then watched out-of-state funders hijack our legislative process to get it repealed. Now it's almost Election Day and our probable next governor is spewing anti-gay messages to build up his tea-party fan base. The prospect of a legally-recognized marriage for my partner and I is fading rapidly away, and it's heartbreaking.

So, folks--keep telling us it gets better. And keep standing with us, working with us, listening to our stories, and seeking justice. Because sometimes, even us "grown-ups" who are different get discouraged.

Thanks.

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: GUEST,mauvepink
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 04:15 PM

I'm on dialup I'm afraid but if I get a chance to look at it when I am with someone who has broadband I'll try and look from off the thread.

I have found more about the project here .

Sadly this sort of thing does not only happen in America. I do believe and UK and some other European countries are gettng better but bullying and bigotry is still rife and far too many young people are dying because of it. One death is one too many.

A recent storyline in the UK BBC1 series "Waterloo Road" focused on an out young gay lad and another who was confused and closeted by fear. While some of the scenes were unpleasant, they did drive home the worse of homophobic bullying and the eventual outcome at that school was positive. If only it were always the case. Of course the sooner no bullying takes place at all then the better.

Education and openess, lack of this fear that seems to consume many that we are trying to teach homosexuality in our schools, and a philosophy of respect will all go a long way toward erradicating such horrid cases. Bigotry in children is often picked up from the adults around them. Be it to do with being gay, transsexual, disabled, of a different race or skin colour, or of a different religion... education has to be oneof the major ways forward.

Bringing such horrors to the fore as this thread does is a noble thing in my opinion. The comments following kat's initial post also show that many are not frightened to stand up and be counted for what is right.

We can all help with such a pledge and can all try and help bring about the sea of change that is needed each time we show those who would do otherwise a better way

Thank's for posting kat and bringing this out

mp

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 03:42 PM

Maybe that is what is needed: More first-person accounts. I was impressed by the Council's reaction.

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 11:49 AM

saw it a week or so ago posted on facebook by friend of my daughter Andie... I have just reposted it.

yes I cried and I watched it through.

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 11:26 AM

Ha! I see that it got cut off the second time too. No worries.

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: open mike
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 02:44 AM

here is the web site that is mentioned in the It Gets Better talk by Joe Burns http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 01:11 AM

Part of that got cut off. Here is the original:

It is just stupefyingly astonishing that we, as a society, didn't long ago discover that a certain proportion of that same society will always - ALWAYS
I am so sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 12:52 AM

It is just stupefyingly astonishing that we, as a society, didn't long ago discover that a certain proportion of that same society will always - ALWAYS
I am so sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 09:09 PM

Superb.

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 08:56 PM

Me, too, gnu, but I hope you watched it to the end anyway, because of his message of hope. What he did/has done take/took a lot of guts and I admire him for what he is doing, as well as everyone who is a part fo the project.

Bobert, that's what I'm thinking, too...there is Hope.

Thanks, fellahs

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: gnu
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 08:10 PM

I was not almost to tears. I was in tears and had to stop the video.

This shit has got to stop.

Subject: RE: BS: It Gets Better - giving hope to children
From: Bobert
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 07:46 PM

I saw that and it alsmost brought me to tears...

I am so glad that there finally seems to be some movement away from this anti-gay conversation toward a more pro-human one...

Maybe there is hope for out country afterall???

B~

Subject: BS: It Gets Better
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 07:40 PM

This is such a positive project. I did not want it to get buried in any of the other somewhat related threads.

Please watch Joe Burns City Councilman from Ft. Worth, Texas concerning gay teen suicides.

And, then see Dan Savage's It Gets Better Project on youtube.

For those of you who have dial-up, please see the website welcoming message at It Gets Better Project

Here is the pledge:

Take the pledge and help spread our message of hope. It Gets Better.

THE PLEDGE: We are the kids who have been bullied for being gay, lesbian, bi or trans. We pledge to stay open and strong. We are also the friends, family members, teachers, mentors, and allies of anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit in, gay or straight. We pledge to talk to the kids in our lives to put an end to the hate, violence, and tragedy — and to offer advice on coping, strategies to make it better, and to remind kids that It Gets Better.