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17 Oct 2011 23:06

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Culture: Casual Monday: ABC anchor comes out on-air like it’s no big deal

  • Big kudos to ABC World News Now host Dan Kloeffler.  Not only did he come out while broadcasting on-air — itself an incredibly courageous thing to do — but he did it in a casual, nonchalant way. No big, dramatic announcement; Kloeffer just off-handedly dropped it during a story about actor Zachary Quinto. “He’s thirty-four, I’m thirty-five,” Kloeffler said about Quinto, who also just came out. “I’m thinking, I can lose my distraction about dating actors for that one.” Kloeffler didn’t present it as a game-changing fact of outsized importance, but just a part of who he is. This is the kind of thing that helps encourage — however slightly — mainstream acceptance of different sexualities, even. source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Sep 2011 00:24

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U.S.: Jamey Rodemeyer: 14-year-old’s suicide stirs emotions

  • I didn’t realize how many people he touched. He was the sweetest, kindest kid you’d ever know. He would give all his heart to you before he gave any to himself.
  • Tracy Rodemeyer • Discussing her 14-year-old son Jamey, who took his own life this week. He was bullied in school for many years for his perceived homosexuality; he recorded his own “It Gets Better” video and was called “outwardly upbeat and extroverted” by his peers. But clearly, this wasn’t enough. Buffalo News writer Sandra Tan asks aloud the one question that needed to be asked: “Given Jamey’s prolific writings and raw commentaries online, could someone have intervened sooner and saved him?” source
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Jul 2011 11:39

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Politics: Scott Brown’s gay rights record: It gets better … for seals

  • It’s an environmental issue that affects everyone. I mean, who doesn’t love seals?
  • Sen. Scott Brown • Making a passionate plea for the plight of the seal to the Cape Cod Times. Problem for Scott, though, is that he made this in the wake of a faltering economic recovery and high unemployment — things he used as an excuse to get out of taking part in this “It Gets Better” video right over here. While Brown says he supports gay rights and is against discrimination, his absence from the video raised more than a few eyebrows, especially since, unlike this video, he actually was asked to participate. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Jul 2011 22:53

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Culture: Massachusetts politicians cut “It Gets Better” clip

  • If you thought this was the last time you’d get to see United States lawmakers in an “It Gets Better” video, think again! John Kerry, who was absent from the previous effort, has made up for it by posting an IGB clip of his own, where he appears alongside a bunch of other Massachusetts politicians to help comfort LGBT youth. The gang’s all here—and by “gang,” we mean “Massachusetts congressional delegation”—except for Scott Brown, who’s afraid of getting primaried from the right in his re-election campaign busy focusing on jobs and the economy. Regardless, it’s nice to see more lawmakers stepping up to the plate here.  source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Jun 2011 22:23

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Politics: Thirteen US Senators make “It Gets Better” video

  • And the ball continues to roll: Earlier this year, a spat of polls showed, for the first time, majority support for same-sex marriage. Last weekend, New York state passed the Marriage Equality Act, granting equal marriage rights to all New Yorkers. Now, thirteen US Senators have filmed an “It Gets Better” video. When you think about the political prospects for gay rights even five years ago, this is kind of astounding — these thirteen individuals (all Democrats; Republicans apparently weren’t asked to participate) are amongst the most powerful people in the most powerful country in the world. Much respect to Senator Chris Coons for posting this; Coons, you’ll recall, was the 2010 candidate everybody wrote off until the Republicans nominated Christine O’Donnell to run against him. So, in a weird way, we have O’Donnell to thank for this video. Thanks, Christine! (via gaywrites, thegayrepublican) source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Jun 2011 14:21

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Politics: The San Francisco Giants say “It Gets Better”

  • A wonderful step: The San Francisco Giants have become the first professional sports team to join the “It Gets Better” campaign, with the release of this video. With this, the Giants are leading a charge in baseball similar to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA, meaning LGBT fans everywhere can now ask why their team hasn’t followed suit — likely the absolute best way to get more franchises on board with this message, and affect positive change. Incidentally, this isn’t the first time the Giants have set the example on a progressive social issue; back in 1993, they were the first team to give proceeds to AIDS research with “Until There’s a Cure” day. Enormous thanks to Barry Zito, Matt Cain, Sergio Romo, Andres Torres, and Hensley Meulens for doing this. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Nov 2010 11:07

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Politics: On “It Gets Better” and general, non-anti-gay bullying

  • Clip of the day: We mentioned on Tumblr that we were saddened by the story of a 29-year-old Gloucester, Massachusetts man so broken down by high school bullying that he never went to college and lives in fear of conflict. We made the suggestion that there needs to be a more general “It Gets Better” campaign for guys like him, but it appears Washington Post super-blogging policy wonk Ezra Klein beat us to the punch with this well-thought-out piece on how growing older gives you control over your own destiny. Some good debate has come from Klein’s video, too. Good thing he did it, because we don’t have an animation budget to create a clip of Julius talking about how he got bullied when he was in the factory. (Hat tip fuckyeahcoolquotes) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

20 Oct 2010 10:57

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Culture: Hillary Clinton jumps onto the “It Gets Better” bandwagon

  • Take heart, and have hope, and please remember that your life is valuable, and that you are not alone.  Many people are standing with you and sending you their thoughts, their prayers and their strength.  Count me among them.
  • Secretary of State Hillary Clinton • Making her own “It Gets Better” video. She’s the most prominent person to make one of these videos, but by far not the only one. Dan Savage’s movement has gotten a lot of attention in recent weeks (especially in the wake of Joel Burns’ speech). But is it helping? Simon Owens of The Next Web recently asked some of the video creators whether they thought the videos would have helped them. “I think it would have been amazing,” said one video-maker, Khris Brown. “I think it would have made me feel less alone.” Owens’ suggestion at the end of the article is that the videos not only have their own outward benefits, but  work as “a method of confronting and addressing the video-makers’ own demons as well.” That’s exactly why this idea is so effective. It empowers the maker as well as the watcher. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Oct 2010 19:42

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Culture: Joel Burns’ “It Gets Better” moment goes viral for the right reasons

  • This video has gotten over a million views in just three days. The “it gets better” message that Fort Worth council member Joel Burns lets out is one of deep struggle – he went through many of the things that gay teens went through – but one that he came out all the better for. His message? So will you. This feels like a corner-turning moment. The weeks since Dan Savage started the “It Gets Better” campaign have proven pivotal in building understanding for gays – of all ages, young and old. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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