President Obama: It Gets Better

[Whisper]

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Recently, several young people have taken their own lives after being bullied for being gay – or perceived as being gay – by their peers. Their deaths are shocking and heartbreaking tragedies. No one should have to endure relentless harassment or tormenting. No one should ever feel so alone or desperate that they feel have nowhere to turn. We each share a responsibility to protect our young people. And we also have an obligation to set an example of respect and kindness, regardless of our differences.

We all have a responsibility to protect all of our children. But we also have an obligation to set an example of respect and kindness regardless of our differences.

This is personal to me. When I was a young adult, I faced the jokes and taunting that too many of our youth face today, and I considered suicide as a way out. But I was fortunate. One of my co-workers recognized that I was hurting, and I soon confided in her. She cared enough to push me to seek help. She saved my life. I will always be grateful for her compassion and support – the same compassion and support that so many kids need today.

In the wake of these terrible tragedies, thousands of Americans have come together to share their stories of hope and encouragement for LGBT youth who are struggling as part of the It Gets Better Project. Their messages are simple: no matter how difficult or hopeless life may seem when you’re a young person who’s been tormented by your peers or feels like you don’t fit in: life will get better.

President Obama is committed to ending bullying, harassment and discrimination in all its forms in our schools and communities. That’s why he recorded this message.

Last year, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services joined forces with four other departments to create a federal task force on bullying. In August 2010, the task force staged the first-ever National Bullying Summit, bringing together 150 top state, local, civic, and corporate leaders to begin mapping out a national plan to end bullying. The task force also launched a new website, www.bullyinginfo.org, which brings all the federal resources on bullying together in one place for the first time ever.

If you’re a young person who’s been bullied or harassed by your peers, or you’re a parent or teacher who knows a young person being bullied or harassed, here are a few resources that can help you:

The Trevor Project (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/)
The Trevor Project is determined to end suicide among LBGTQ youth by providing resources and a nationwide, 24 hour hotline. If you are considering suicide or need help, call: 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386).

BullyingInfo.org (http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/topic_bullying.shtml?utm_source=BullyingInfo.org&utm_medium=Redirect&utm_campaign=BullyingSummitt)
BullyingInfo.org is a project of the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP) focused on providing tools and resources for youth, parents, teachers and mental health providers to prevent and address bullying.

It Gets Better Project (http://www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject)
President Obama’s video is just one of thousands of videos submitted by people across the country to inspire and encourage LGBT youth who are struggling. You can watch more videos at ItGetsBetterProject.com.

For even more information and resources visit:

Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) (http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/home/index.html)

Matthew Shepard Foundation (http://www.matthewshepard.org/)

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) (http://community.pflag.org/Page.aspx?pid=194&srcid=-2)

A transcript of the President’s video is here (http://www.whitehouse.gov/it-gets-better-transcript).

Brian Bond is Deputy Director of the Office of Public Engagement


SOURCE:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/itgetsbetter

[Peace God]

I cant wait to see what the media is gonna do with this.

[Whisper]

i really dont think the republicans would slam obama for standing up against bullying so severe its leading to a significant amount of teen suicides, especially not leading up to elections.

anybody who slams this has the blood of those kids on their hands

hell in canada due to the topic and its sensitivity any attack against it would be considered hate speech and you'd be in severe trouble.


I think its monumental that Obama would stand up like this and release a statement defending gay rights and stating the bullying has to stop.
I doubt McCain would have done that.

He's the best president americas had in my 23yrs.
I wish our gov had a leader like him
im serious
Harpers a total dick, he's our version of Bush

[Magus]

He's the best president americas had in my 23yrs.
I wish our gov had a leader like him
And I really ponder about the "Obama is the worst president" and "Bush is much better than Obama" titles and etc.

Is he really the worst president? Want my 'Middle-Eastern opinion'? I don't think so, I think he is much better than the previous presidents. Come on! He is a head-figure who wants to stop discrimination and not to instigate it.

[Amnesiac]

i really dont think the republicans would slam obama for standing up against bullying so severe its leading to a significant amount of teen suicides, especially not leading up to elections.

anybody who slams this has the blood of those kids on their hands

With American politics, I wouldn't be at all surprised if some tea-partier came out against this.

"He's trying to teach kids that homosexuality is acceptable! THAT'S WRONG!"

[Sage]

With American politics, I wouldn't be at all surprised if some tea-partier came out against this.

"He's trying to teach kids that homosexuality is acceptable! THAT'S WRONG!"

Obama could bring in world peace and people would blame him for soldiers having to find new jobs.

[Sith Lord 13]

Obama could bring in world peace and people would blame him for soldiers having to find new jobs.

He could also blow up the planet and people would praise him for solving global warming. He has his die hard supporters and his die hard critics.

[The Dark Lord]

And I really ponder about the "Obama is the worst president" and "Bush is much better than Obama" titles and etc.

Is he really the worst president? Want my 'Middle-Eastern opinion'? I don't think so, I think he is much better than the previous presidents. Come on! He is a head-figure who wants to stop discrimination and not to instigate it.

Which politicians aim to instigate discrimination?

[Magus]

Which politicians aim to instigate discrimination?
I don't know. Which politicians do you think that aims to instigate discrimination?

[Amnesiac]

Obama could bring in world peace and people would blame him for soldiers having to find new jobs.

Pssht, he could build a homeless shelter and they would say he's wasting taxpayer money on the poor.

He could also blow up the planet and people would praise him for solving global warming. He has his die hard supporters and his die hard critics.

And they're both equally stupid. However, the die-hard critics are more vocal.

[Azunite]

"Federal Force for bullying" ???
What will they do ? Raid the schools with SWAT teams ?

[Azunite]

And, about that Bush-Obama thing.

Well, I watched Fahrenheit 9/11, which showed Bush as an utter failure, he goes on vacation frequently for example and vice president is evacuated before than Bush. And the guy came to school and said "Sir, the nation has been attacked" and Bush's face was like a 5 year old baby .
Anyway, in my opinion Bush was a failure, he tried to "level up" America but failed and caused mayhem in MEast.
I told what I saw on the movie and my dad was like " You cant be serious, Bush wasn't stupid! I mean, he graduated from Princeton ! "
Course I dont agree with him, Obama is way better than Bush.

Still have no idea why he got that Nobel though.
I think it is still early to judge Obama " Is he a better presi. or not "
We'll see it when he draws troops from Iraq, keeps his promises and form that Anti Bullying SWAts

[The Dark Lord]

And, about that Bush-Obama thing.

Well, I watched Fahrenheit 9/11, which showed Bush as an utter failure, he goes on vacation frequently for example and vice president is evacuated before than Bush. And the guy came to school and said "Sir, the nation has been attacked" and Bush's face was like a 5 year old baby .
Anyway, in my opinion Bush was a failure, he tried to "level up" America but failed and caused mayhem in MEast.
I told what I saw on the movie and my dad was like " You cant be serious, Bush wasn't stupid! I mean, he graduated from Princeton ! "
Course I dont agree with him, Obama is way better than Bush.

Still have no idea why he got that Nobel though.
I think it is still early to judge Obama " Is he a better presi. or not "
We'll see it when he draws troops from Iraq, keeps his promises and form that Anti Bullying SWAts

You base your beliefs on how successful Presidents were on the basis of a film. Same! I watch the West Wing and there's this great liberal lefty Democrat and he seems to be a great guy, does this mean that Obama will be a great success?

I don't know. Which politicians do you think that aims to instigate discrimination?

I don't think any politician instigates discrimination, the tone of your original post suggests you think otherwise

[Apparitions]

So it gets so much better for gay people, does it Obama? You don't help this by not ending your military's policy that soldiers can't openly be gay whilst in the US military because of old fashioned, hateful prejudices?

[Bougainvillea]

I kind of agree with don't ask don't tell. If soldiers were more openly gay in the military, they could face more discrimination and prejudices by fellow servicemen. Although, I don't believe that people should have to hide who they are.

[Peace God]

So it gets so much better for gay people, does it Obama? You don't help this by not ending your military's policy that soldiers can't openly be gay whilst in the US military because of old fashioned, hateful prejudices?
you cant even acknowledge a step in the right direction?

[Amnesiac]

I kind of agree with don't ask don't tell. If soldiers were more openly gay in the military, they could face more discrimination and prejudices by fellow servicemen. Although, I don't believe that people should have to hide who they are.

Well, it's the homophobic soldiers causing the problems, not the gays. The homophobes are the ones making it an issue. I bet most gay servicemen couldn't give less of a fuck about their sexuality while serving.

[Sith Lord 13]

Well, it's the homophobic soldiers causing the problems, not the gays. The homophobes are the ones making it an issue. I bet most gay servicemen couldn't give less of a fuck about their sexuality while serving.

If that were true, why does don't ask don't tell matter? If they couldn't give a fuck about it, why do they need to talk about it?

[Amnesiac]

If that were true, why does don't ask don't tell matter? If they couldn't give a fuck about it, why do they need to talk about it?

There are plenty of scenarios where other people could find out someone is gay without that person actually saying anything — did they get it from a friend of the soldier? The soldier's profile on Facebook? Maybe they just suspect he's gay from, let's say, his higher-than-normal voice and decide to act on that assumption.

[Bougainvillea]

Well, it's the homophobic soldiers causing the problems, not the gays. The homophobes are the ones making it an issue. I bet most gay servicemen couldn't give less of a fuck about their sexuality while serving. Yeah. That's what I was talking about. Gays would most likely expierience some type of harassment by other servicemen. I never implied it would be the gays causing trouble. I'd rather be forced to keep it a secret, than be harassed by dickfaces and most likely eventually have people be acting different towards you. Which shouldn't be tolerated in the armed forces. Unity is a priority.

[Amnesiac]

Yeah. That's what I was talking about. Gays would most likely expierience some type of harassment by other servicemen. I never implied it would be the gays causing trouble. I'd rather be forced to keep it a secret, than be harassed by dickfaces and most likely eventually have people be acting different towards you. Which shouldn't be tolerated in the armed forces. Unity is a priority.

I agree, the ones causing the problems should be booted, not the victims of discrimination.

[Bougainvillea]

Well. Try telling them that. But unfortunately, that's what's happening. :P

[Amnesiac]

Well. Try telling them that. But unfortunately, that's what's happening. :P

I thought they were being told :rolleyes:

[Whisper]

I thought they were being told :rolleyes:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2367515373_515ff7a325.jpg



srsly tho this isn't so much about the military's don't ask don't tell I mea thats discrimination based on sexuality granted but this is an outreach to american, hell to all youth, that its not wrong to be gay.

K example, anybody remember this? (i might get in shit for posting this...but it was on cable tv so fuck it)
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That whole EVERYBODY including god thinks there's something sick and wrong with you mentality

It seems to be changing
theres a strong societal shift that enough's enough
and I think thats fucking wicked

For the President of the free world to step up and publicly say that bullying a teen because they're gay is wrong, that you don't have to feel like nobody cares and you don't have to kill yourself. That there's a better way and although your life is shit now, it doesn't mean it always will be that way.
Its spreading a message of hope
a ton of people have done this through the "it gets better project"
but to get the presidents backing is huge!


Harper would NEVER EVER fucking do that
He's like the biggest douche of all time

[Sith Lord 13]

There are plenty of scenarios where other people could find out someone is gay without that person actually saying anything — did they get it from a friend of the soldier? The soldier's profile on Facebook? Maybe they just suspect he's gay from, let's say, his higher-than-normal voice and decide to act on that assumption.

Except one problem. The full policy is "don't ask, don't tell, don't harass, don't pursue." For the proceeding to start, they also need a lot more than the assumption.

Keeping that information off Facebook while enlisted would just be common sense.

[Amnesiac]

Except one problem. The full policy is "don't ask, don't tell, don't harass, don't pursue." For the proceeding to start, they also need a lot more than the assumption.

Keeping that information off Facebook while enlisted would just be common sense.

Facebook is part of civilian life. I would say it's a gay soldier's choice whether or not he wants to keep that information up.

I'm sure there are plenty of homophobic soldiers who would happily break that rule and pursue a gay soldier. Why does that gay soldier have to be punished for being pursued by a homophobe?

[Sith Lord 13]

I'm sure there are plenty of homophobic soldiers who would happily break that rule and pursue a gay soldier. Why does that gay soldier have to be punished for being pursued by a homophobe?

He doesn't. That pursuit is in violation of the policy. As such any evidence from it should be inadmissible. If that's not how it works, then implementation, not policy, has to be changed.