All too often all too many gay activists play the victim, whining how we need government action to make things better for us. They wail and moan about how horrible, no good and very bad things are because we lack our “equality.” They lash out at others, be they social conservative, Mormons or especially those evil Republicans as if their very existence were the cause of gay people’s woes.
Yet, suddenly, we have media endeavor that’s catching fire in the gay community where the focus is not our woes, but instead on our well-being. Various individuals and organizations want us to record video messages saying that things get better when we leave home and come of the closet. By promoting the idea that “it gets better,” gay people around the country are focusing on the positive — and changing the tone.
While I remain dubious how effective these videos can be in helping gay teens, I appreciate how they allow us to look at our own lives and acknowledge how much things have improved since we came out. With all the social change of the past four decades, particularly the last two, it’s a heckuva lot easier to be openly gay.
I’m glad to see people are saying as much — and in so public a manner. Let’s hope we see more such endeavors.
I’m not so sure about this latest obsession with gay teasing and bullying.
It attempts to elevate gay bullying and resulting suicides as more important than any other types of bullying which puts gays in a special class. Isn’t bullying somebody because of their height, weight, race, physical disability, or any number of other characteristics just as bad? Isn’t it just as tragic when a non-gay person takes their life because they were depressed and made fun of?
This smacks of Gay, Inc trying to find a new issue to rally around since Prop 8 and DADT are out of their hands and in the courts. They can only stay in existence if gays are still victims so they’ll constantly search for the next issue to cry about.
Excellent point, Dan. It’s also very difficult to square the argument that it will get better when you grow up and get away from the cruelty of kids, with the claim that gays are oppressed victims.
Another excellent point, and therein lies the explanation for the above contradiction.
Check out “I’m From Driftwood” too.
http://www.imfromdriftwood.com/
Will it even be possible to measure the effectivieness of IGB? HMM (Shoulder Shrug)
but I do like the project and have seen it’s effects truly affect lives in a positive way.
I especially like the many faith-based messages.
Here is Oral Roberts Grandson. . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYa0wi4XzeI
it is a long video, so those with a short attention span, or used to the 3 minute post review might become frustrated.
IGB has been a wonderful tool for reflection. It is interesting to hear stories from folk who recount their early years. Especially those who were able to ‘pass’ through the gauntlet unscathed.
‘All too often all too many gay activists play the victim, whining how we need government action to make things better for us.’ BDB
whining about the whiners. . .but hey here I am whining about the whiners who are whining about the whiners.
No the FOLK in the big stone buildings don’t need to be telling us what we should already be practicing and promoting. . .
Please consider taking time to listen to the Oral Roberts story.
SIDENOTE. . .BDB ‘Let’s open we see more such endeavors.’ should that be HOPE rather than open.
My issue with this campaign is that yes, as you grow older and mature, ‘it gets better’. There are all kinds of reasons for bullying, most have nothing to do with sexual orientation, and most people grow up, leave their miserable teen years behind and then yes, life does get better.
But that isn’t helpful to the teen right now who is tormented. Unfortunately, bullying and teasing are a normal part of life – I did hear the lefties say they’ll outlaw it – like that will change human nature.
Of course I come back to an issue no one wants to discuss – if these kids had parents to turn to, they wouldn’t be all alone with this. I’ve noticed that in most suicide cases – there was no strong family unit behind the kid – sometimes cuz the parents were too busy doing other things to ‘be there’ for their kids and sometimes cuz the kid cut the parents out.
The left wants to solve social problems with programs and money, the last thing they want is to support the family unit – by doing so they weaken themselves.
So true Leah, children should turn to their parents for support, guidance and understanding. . .but not always going to happen, for the points you list. Busy, Disconnected, Univolved Parents —
just like Midland School Board VP Clint McCance over in Arkansas:
“I would disown my kids they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity. I will absolutely run them off. Of course my kids will know better. My kids will have solid christian beliefs. See it infects everyone.”
McCance certainly doesn’t represent most parents, but many youth face situations where they have nowhere to go with their reports of bullying. Kinda hard to own up to be bulied ‘Um why are they picking on you?”
YOU’RE WHAT?
Thanks, rusty, fixed!
I’m in favor, generally, of any new media effort to send a positive message of strength and community to underage gay youth struggling with personal issues. But I wonder if this group of men would have been repulsed if a gay youth approached them with a “Bush 2000” t shirt on –and that kind of kills the whole “community” thing, eh?
In a similar vein, watching this ad, I wonder how many of the men in the chorus have tried to hit on young, vulnerable gays in order to satiate their lust… using confusion and uncertainty to the advantage of the older male?
Maybe an ad that asked older gay men to sign an online pledge promising to not target gay youth for sex would be a better action item? Or a pledge to stand against the depiction of twinks in porn?
I couldn’t help but imagine the majority of guys in this chorus still fantasize about luring a twink into the sack like some queen vampire out for fresh blood. That can’t be a good outcome for anyone -in tune or not; perfect capped teeth or not.
rusty,
While I don’t want to argue numbers or ratios or bean counting, but I know of people who’s parents were down on them because they weren’t jocks like their parents, or, (in my cousins case) weren’t like their family.
Again, I don’t have any numbers but it’s *not* just limited to gays.
(aside, while I think stopping bullying is impossible for kids, adults should know better)
yes LW. . .Of course any child, gay or straight, can become victims of bullying, as the much-publicized suicide in January of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince of South Hadley, Mass., showed all too tragically. She had withstood months of bullying from schoolmates after moving from Ireland.
. . . adolescence renders young people especially vulnerable to harassment, and the difficulties of grappling with sexuality can complicate that further.
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100265373
again, will there ever be an effective evaluation of IGB? BIG SHOULDER SHRUG? has their been a new level of awareness of bullying through IGB? probably. how long before this floats back under the radar? who knows.
A new study released this week found that half of high school students have been bullied or bullied others in the past year but a special program at Portland’s Lincoln High School has been working to change that.
Lincoln has received national attention for its anti-bullying program. In it, students present plays to their peers and encourage them to recognize and stop hate speech right away.
The program even has its own special slogan.
“Tame it – like decrease the power it has right there – then name it – it’s bullying, it’s a bad thing – and then claim it – it doesn’t match our value system – and then maintain that vigilance across the school,” explained Lincoln High School Principal Peyton Chapman.
Over the last two years, students have reported that bullying at Lincoln High School has dropped by 50-percent. Now, several schools nationwide have adopted Lincoln’s program.
http://www.kgw.com/home/Lincoln-HS-promotes-anti-bullying-program-106079789.html