President Obama is joining nationally syndicated columnist Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” Project to fight against gay bulling. Obama released an anti-bullying video yesterday for the project. In it, he attempts to dispel the myth that bullying is an inevitable part of growing up.
Savage talks to Kiran and John on this morning’s American Morning about President Obama's partnership and the It Gets Better Project that he started this September to speak directly to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth who are bullied at school by peers, teachers, parents, churches and politicians.
Thousands of people have posted their stories to It Gets Better, including celebrities and other public profiles, urging teenagers not to take their own lives because life does improve.
As a 50 y/o gay male, I would have never believed that some day I would hear and see so much dialogue about being gay. It was never discussed in more than a whisper when I grew up. I had no choice. I was forced to live a lie. Thank goodness we have stood up and are waking up our society!
Dan Savage has done a great thing by opening up the dialogue concerning bullying. HOWEVER, bullying is NOT a gay ONLY issue!!!! It affects everyone regardless of their sexual orientation. However lately in the media the focus and the impression being given to the public is that children who are gay are the only ones in danger of being victimized. This issue is heading down the wrong path. Let's not make this serious issue only about gays being bullied because its not!!!! The seriousness of this epidemic targets anyone seen as different, or defenseless. So please let's talk about this issue and its resolution as a whole and educate the public to understand that anyone can fall prey to a bully. That all children, teens, young adults are at risk. Anything short of this will further isolate children, teens, and young adults who need our help regardless of sexual orientation.