PFY Joins It Gets Better!!

By Becca Harrington, Social Work Intern ‘Faggot,’ ‘dyke,’ ‘that’s so gay,’ ‘no homo’ are just a few examples of verbal harassment endured by Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) youth in schools, on the bus, and on Facebook everyday. But it doesn’t stop there. Homo-, bi- and transphobia take many forms and are daily promoted in the media, in magazines, in religious organizations, and even in our laws. It is no wonder, according to the Massachusetts Youth Risk Survey (2007) that LGB youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than youth who identify as heterosexual. Transgender (T) youth are especially targeted for harassment. Sixty-one percent report experiences of harassment, assault, and/or expulsion from school as a result of their transgender identity (The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force & The National Center for Transgender Equality, 2011). Fortunately, the media has recently picked up on the epidemic of suicide among LGBT youth and people are starting to take action. In September 2010, after a string of completed suicides by LGBT identified youth, including Tyler Clementi of Rutgers University, syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage and his partner Terry started the It Gets Better Project. They simply made a video sharing their experiences growing up as gay, how difficult it was, and yet how positive their lives have turned out. Fellow LGBT folks and their straights allies were so inspired by this emotionally-driven outreach that thousands of people--including celebrities, elected officials, and youth organizations--joined in the cyber movement with their own inspirational videos. In November, PFY Director Pete Carney suggested that our agency should join the movement and make our own It Gets Better video. As an intern at Pride for Youth and a person who has personally struggled with harassment and isolation as a lesbian-identified, gender queer person, I happily offered to film, edit, and produce a video. Secretly, I always wanted to be a filmmaker of some sorts so I thought “this could be my big break!” But in all seriousness, making this film was a fulfilling and enjoyable task. I work with the staff at Pride for Youth on a regular basis and it’s easy to forget that we all struggled in the face of adversity in order to one day reach a point of stability and tranquility in our lives. And even after all the hardships, we want nothing more than to serve as a supportive outlet for the next generation of LGBT youth. To say the least, making this film has been one of the most fulfilling projects I have completed in my short six months at Pride for Youth. It is incredible to know that I work with a staff of people who are passionate and dedicated to eliminating the prejudice and hatred that has led to too many completed suicides by young LGBT people. I truly believe that the honesty and openness of the participants in the video has the potential to seriously empower and enlighten many LGBT youth who have considered or attempted suicide. The message I want to send with this video, and I think I speak on behalf of Pride for Youth, is that LGBT youth are not alone in their struggle, they are worth saving, and it will get better. I hope you enjoy the video.