jace - it gets better

this is my youtube submission for dan savage's "it gets better" project.

i don't usually talk in my youtube videos so forgive me if it's not that good. anyway, i just wanted to tell young people who are struggling with the sexual identity that they really aren't alone and there are countless people out there going through the same issues, and many more people who want to help. i was bullied in both elementary and high school (it wasn't because i was gay, actually, but because i was small and easy to pick on - i don't even want to imagine how much more bullying i would have endured if i had come out as a teenager), and i struggled with my sexual identity throughout my teens and even early adulthood, but it got better. time heals everything. gay teens shouldn't have to feel that ending their life is the answer. suicide is never the answer. life will get better, and that's a promise. hang in there.

for more info, see:
http://www.youtube.com/itgetsbetterproject

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• human rights activism
• gay rights
• it gets better
• dan savage
• lgbt
• lgbt rights
• gay teen suicides
• the trevor project
• jace
• locus
• locus.anniegroup.com
• vancouver

[lgbtTV4]

As bad as things might have seen to you, you were (ARE) lucky to be Canadian. Things are so much more progressive there. My archives has a 1980 CBC show titled, A Moment in Time, which dramatized contemporary issues. An episode, "The Running Man," was about a closeted married track coach who refused to help a gay student, who later killed himself. Unlike US TV productions, it was gritty and very realistic, and even showed a gay porn centerfold (which his wife accidentally discovered).

[jasonchu82]

@lgbtTV4 wow, that sounds intriguing. i'd love to see that.

[lgbtTV4]

I don't know if you get US news but one of the interesting aspect of Tyler Clementi's suicide is that his tormentors are Indian- and Chinese-American, groups that are stereotypically seen as studious and asexual, and not usually seen in sex/ hate crimes. Both groups are also very concerned with familial reputation, i.e. honor killings and "saving face." Imagine their shame, especially after the news went global. There are so many victims in this stupid tragedy.

[jasonchu82]

@lgbtTV4 actually, over here in canada, as much as i don't want to do any disservice to anybody out there, i'm sad to say that indo-canadians have been responsible for several of the recent gay bashings.

[lgbtTV4]

Congrats for reaching such a happy place. I did some grad work on gay counseling, with a focus on ethnic/racial minorities, and wish there are more faces and voices like yours in the media (which includes YouTube). I remember how helpless I felt when I had my first gay Chinese AIDS patient. Thankfully, more resources are available now. You might want to rent Hollywood Chinese; there s a segment on Chinese gays in the media. I can upload if you can't find it. Thanks for sharing your story.

[jasonchu82]

@lgbtTV4 it'd be great if you could upload the segment! thanks for watching and thank you for the work you're doing! =)

[Vietnamemperor12346]

you're lucky in canada in america is even worse so many states have no marriage rights benefits

[lgbtTV4]

@jasonchu82 I'll really have to search for "The Running Man." I lent it to my professor and am not sure if I ever got it back. Io remember writing to the CBC and they said that the show was no longer available. I'll upload the Hollywood Chinese segment later, and email you a link so that you can download the entire show.

Okay, no more posts ... I promise.  Both you and I have real work to do!

[lgbtTV4]

@lgbtTV4 I meant to write, "Imagine their PARENTS' shame, especially after the news went global." I don't give a damn about the tormentors' shame since it's sweet justice! After all, the webcam stunt was designed to embarrass Tyler, so it's fitting that they are now shamed in front of the world. But their parents are innocent, as far as I know. Like I said, so many victims in this stupid senseless tragedy. But it wasn't in vain; this video project was inspired by his death.

[lgbtTV4]

And let's not forget the original Degrassi Jr High (late 80's), which featured both gay and lesbian episodes. The gay plot concerned Snake's star athlete brother coming out and the resulting familial rejection. The lesbian story was about a female teacher rumored to be gay. I uploaded the gay episode to Youtube but my account was closed for copyright violation! Both are now available on YouTube.

And of course, there was the groundbreaking kiss between Dylan and Marco in The Next Generation!