itgetsbetter.jpg
Dan Savage (right) in a still from his video on the YouTube Channel It Gets Better Project.

Dan Savage talks "It Gets Better Project"

September 30, 2010 @ 12:16 pm (Updated: 1:37 pm - 3/28/11 )

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By ALYSSA KLEVEN
MyNorthwest.com

In the wake of a Rutgers University suicide and several other gay teen suicides, gay advocate and "The Stranger" editor, Dan Savage, is speaking out.

With the help of his partner Terry, Savage launched the "It Gets Better Project." Savage spoke with KIRO Radio's Dave Ross on Thursday about reaching out to gay teens that may have been bullied or harassed, and how it will get better.

"As a gay adult I would read these stories about suicides and think, I wish I could have talked to those kids for five minutes, and just have been able to tell them that however bad it is now, it gets better. They have the future, and they have a happy future if they just hang in there," said Savage.

The "It Gets Better Project" is a YouTube channel moderated by Savage, where gay and lesbian adults post videos with a positive message with the idea that no matter what gay and lesbian teens maybe facing now, it can get better.

"When that 13-year-old commits suicide, it means that they can't see happiness and joy in their life ever," said Savage.

Savage added that some of these kids and teens were being harassed right under adults' noses. "They were being brutally and viciously harassed while adults stood by and did nothing," said Savage.

Now, with the "It Gets Better Project," Savage feels like he has the tools to reach out to kids in despair. "Apparently I wasn't the only gay or lesbian adult that felt that way," Savage told Ross.

Since the launch of the Project on Sept. 15, in the past 15 days, the project has received over 100 video submissions.

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Comments (9)


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  • Had enough yet, Libs? wrote...
    Dan Savage talks "It Gets Better Project"
    September 30, 2010 2:10 pm
    When?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • couchpotatoslacker wrote...
    Then it gets a whole lot worse
    September 30, 2010 2:20 pm
    in the afterlife.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • couchpotatoslacker wrote...
    That goes for the harasers too
    September 30, 2010 2:22 pm
    Those that harass these kids will not have a fun afterlife either.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    Excellent
    September 30, 2010 2:45 pm
    grooming opportunity, just excellent. The previous statement is not approved by the thought police.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SaneOutlook wrote...
    Bonneville - the pinnacle of hypocrisy and bigotry
    September 30, 2010 3:27 pm
    So after the same organization that owns this website (the LDS church) pours MILLIONS into the Prop 8 campaign in california, then you run this story?

    Who do you think you are fooling? Do you think anyone at all believes you care anything at all about people who are not straight and white?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Had enough yet, Libs? wrote...
    Do you think anyone at all believes you care anything at all about people who are not straight and white?
    September 30, 2010 4:10 pm
    And here we have a perfect example of a Bigoted statement!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SaneOutlook wrote...
    That is not bigoted. THESE are a really good example of bigoted.
    September 30, 2010 6:11 pm
    "Now WE ARE GENEROUS WITH THE NEGRO. WE ARE WILLING that the Negro have the highest kind of education. I WOULD BE WILLING to LET every Negro DRIVE A CADILLAC IF THEY COULD AFFORD IT. I WOULD BE WILLING that they have all the advantages they can get out of life in the world. BUT LET THEM ENJOY THESE THINGS AMONG THEMSELVES."

    LDS "Apostle" Mark E. Petersen, "Race Problems - As They Affect The Church," Address delivered at Brigham Young University, August 27, 1954, as quoted in Jerald and Sandra Tanner's book entitled, "The Changing World of Mormonism," p. 307, emphasis added.

    "Those who were LESS VALIANT IN PRE-EXISTENCE and who thereby had certain spiritual restrictions imposed upon them during mortality are known to us as the NEGROES."

    LDS "Apostle" Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 527, 1966 edition, emphasis added.

    "THE NEGROES ARE NOT EQUAL WITH OTHER RACES where the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are concerned, ...but this inequality is not of man's origin. IT IS THE LORD'S DOING, is based on his eternal laws of justice, and grows out of the LACK OF SPIRITUAL VALIANCE OF THOSE CONCERNED IN THEIR FIRST ESTATE [the Mormon pre-existence]."

    LDS "Apostle" Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 527 - 528, 1966 edition, emphasis added.

    Actually, they are straight up racist. If you want about 100 more, use your favorite search engine, and if you doubt that the LDS church is not overtly bigoted and uses its financial resources to deny other people their human rights on a regular basis, you are living in denial and very likely...a big part of the problem yourself.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • artimus wrote...
    Way to go, Dan
    September 30, 2010 9:23 pm
    Nice to see someone walk the walk rather than just bellyache.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Phillibuster wrote...
    What gets better?
    October 4, 2010 9:16 am
    The acceptence inside the 'alternative' lifestyle choice community? The pain of the sphincter being violated? The possible diagnosis of being HIV positive? The total realization that it is a 'choice' and you then realize you are violating basic natural laws? Does it take celebrities to say it is OK? Sure, they listen to celebrities and their associated debaucheries. Sad state of affairs. Another reason why American society has degraded into an immoral disgusting state it is in.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }