It Gets Better

As an antidote to all the poison being spewed by Anti-Gay, Inc., there's this, from a young man named Dalton Ray:

Here's his story. Read it.

Via Towleroad.

SFPD: It Gets Better

Right on target -- these policemen and -women are all gay. This is probably the most encouraging IGB video I've seen. Word to the wise -- grab a hanky.

Whatever your feelings about police in general -- and I admit to more than a little concern with the way police forces are being militarized across the country, and the pernicious effects of "police culture" on actual law enforcement -- I think it's significant that a police department would get behind something like an It Gets Better video.

OK, Chicago -- your turn.

It All Starts to Come Together

From serving military personnel in Bagram, Afghanistan:

Only Good Stuff Today

Because I've been down in the dumps and need it.

First, this story about the Oregon U.S. Attorney's office's It Gets Better video:

Ever since he heard Savage talk about the "It Gets Better" project, Holton said making a video has been on his to-do list. He said he wasn't sure what to expect when he put out the call for participants, and he was moved by his colleagues' willingness to share their personal experiences. Since the video was posted to Youtube last week, he's heard from other U.S. attorneys across the country interested in doing their own videos. . . .

"The U.S. Attorney's Office has a tremendous capacity to make change in the community," he said. "This is an opportunity we couldn't miss. We have credibility and forcefulness as a voice in the community that lots of folks don't have.

"When we weigh in to say we're on your side, it matters," he said.

And you can always count on the Marines:

Whether the end of "don't ask, don't tell" will open recruitment floodgates remains to be seen. As soon as the policy was repealed last month, a top Marine recruiting trainer for the Southwest showed up at the biggest gay community center in Tulsa, Okla., bracing for insults and protests. Instead, he conversed quietly with a trickle of gay women who wandered in to ask about joining the Marines.

At Pasadena City College on Saturday, Wallace was among eight Marines at the recruitment booth. From the morning opening, the Marine contingent proved the biggest draw amid tables representing healthcare organizations, church groups and vendors of rainbow-colored garden decorations. It might have helped that the Marines handed out a lanyard, a pen or a sticker to each man who tried to do a pull-up, or to each woman who tried the flexed-arm hang. To the rare volunteer capable of performing 20 pull-ups went a navy-blue T-shirt.

And there are two gay candidates for mayor of San Diego -- both Republicans.

It Does Get Better

This video pays for all:

To echo the comment I made at Box Turtle Bulletin, where I discovered it, it should be required viewing for those who can't seem to do anything but bitch at Dan Savage for not waving some sort of magic wand and making it perfect right now.

An Antidote

to the sickos in the previous post: here's Dan Savage on The Colbert Report:



Kind of cleans your brain out from the filth of Tony Perkins and his ilk, doesn't it?

It Gets Better

A very good video from Joe Biden.

Speaker Pelosi: It Gets Better

This strikes me as a very honest and direct statement by someone who actually has been trying to make it better. (Mr. President, please take note -- she could use some help here.)

And another poke at the authoritarian gay left, just simply because they piss me off so much -- when you do something this effective, something that generates this kind of resonance in the country at large, something that gets the highest officials in the country to participate, let me know, mmkay? Until then, keep your carping to yourselves.

The President of the United States: It Gets Better

I'm not his biggest fan, but this gets him points:




A footnote: In light of this video, that by Sec. Clinton, the one by Joel Burns of the Fort Worth City Council, and of many others from so many people, political leaders, celebrities, and just everyday people, maybe the PC alphabet-soup left should just take it for what it's worth -- people trying to help rather than sniping from the sidelines.

It Gets Better

From Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:



And remember, tomorrow is Spirit Day -- wear purple:

Spirit Day honors the teenagers who had taken their own lives in recent weeks. But just as importantly, it's also a way to show the hundreds of thousands of LGBT youth who face the same pressures and bullying, that there is a vast community of people who support them.

Purple symbolizes 'spirit' on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978.

As one of the event's Facebook pages says: "This event is not a seminar nor is it a rally. There is NO meeting place. All you have to do is wear purple."

Wearing purple on October 20 is a simple way to show the world that you stand by these courageous young people and a simple way to stand UP to the bullies. Remember those lives we've tragically lost, and show your solidarity with those who are still fighting. 'Go Purple' today!

It Gets Better: Telling It Like It Is

This is one of my favorites so far: