This week our country has finally woken up to the epidemic of gay teen suicide. Don’t be fooled by the media into thinking there’s been a sudden uptick in queer kids killing themselves — this has been going on for far too long. But for whatever reason, now people are starting to notice.
Dan Savage and his husband Terry have launched a YouTube project collecting videos from adult queer people to reassure kids out there that It Gets Better. There are aspects of the project that don’t entirely sit right with me, but I think it’s a good starting response. It’s worth pointing out that while this project is called “It Gets Better,” there is a different, youth-led project itself is called “Make It Better,” which should really be our goal. Because it only gets better if we all work hard to make it better.
Here’s my video, Jewschool. If you’re making one, please share a link in the comments. And if you’re a queer kid out there who feels alone, maybe Jewschool can be the start of a new community for you. Start making it so by leaving a message in the comments to this post.
8 comments
Great video Dlevy. I especially appreciated both the theme of community and the direct acknowledgment of the role of privilege.
Thanks for your thoughtful – and honest – post. It can be easy to forget the role that privilege plays in our lives, and therefore be remiss in giving thanks for the opportunities afforded to us. An addendum to your message above: once it does get better, remember to show your gratitude to all those people who helped you through. I know I still owe a few “thank you’s.”
Your articulate response to the “It Gets Better” campaign makes many valid points, the best of which speaks of surrounding yourself with supportive people and “creating” family. I hope your viewers know about PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays)which has over 500 chapters nationwide. PFLAG “promotes the health and well-being of LGBT persons, their families and friends through SUPPORT to cope with an adverse society, EDUCATION to enlighten an ill-informed public, and ADVOCACY to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights.”
[…] if you need a little more motivation, here’s Sarah Silverman’s addition to the Make It Better […]
I am not gay, teenager or Jewish. I do agree with what you are trying to do here. It is time for our children to stop killing themselves because they feel they are so alone or ‘broken’! It matters not if you are gay, pregnent, Pagan, green or from Draconia! You are of great value to this planet and are deeply loved. It’s time to love all just for the sake of loving! Just imagine if we did! Blessings to all.
well said! I wish it was possible to post this sort of thing on JewishBoston.com…maybe someday…
It’s absolutely possible to post this sort of thing on JewishBoston.com. And right now we’re featuring the Do Not Stand Idly By pledge on our front page. But since that’s my full-time day job, I’m trying to keep the “glimpse into David’s personal life” posts located elsewhere.
[…] I guess it’s not entirely surprising that a Canadian-specific video for the “It Gets Better” campaign is the catalyst for bringing me back to my blog. A lot of what was shared in this video resonates with me, echoes my experiences as a queer kid growing up in Canada. I don’t feel the need to make my own video – in part because I don’t have anything original to say, and in part because I find this all too privileged (bonus: watch my roommate’s video). […]