FGG and Our Group support "It Gets Better" project

UPDATE: Read our update HERE.

As a reaction to the recent mainstream recognition of the ravages of suicide among young homosexuals, American columnist Dan Savage has launched the “It Gets Better” project on YouTube. On a dedicated YouTube channel, out adults post videos to share the message to these young people that their current experience as a teen or young adult is the worst time of their life, and that things will indeed get better for them later.

For young people who are isolated and who lack role models and people to talk to, who feel they must remain in the closet, who are bullied and harassed, and yet who often have no one to reach out to, the message of hope in these videos, from happy adults who understand their pain and struggles, can help get them through these hard times and make it safe and whole to a happier part of their life.

The Federation of Gay Games is pleased to partner with Our Group, an organization of young collegiate athletes, to ask the members of our family to contribute their video testimony to this channel. We firmly believe that practicing a sport or cultural activity as an out athlete or artist can be an important part of helping “things get better” by contributing to our overall well-being, both physical and emotional.

In your message, we would love for you to include your experience as an out athlete or artist, and to let viewers know that there are places – organizations, sports clubs, competitions – that will welcome them as they are.

And if you’ve been to a Gay Games, we suggest that you wear your medal in your video as a visible symbol of a place where LGBT people can come together to be themselves, to support each other, and to do their personal best in their sport or cultural activity.

How to:

The YouTube channel is HERE.

You’ll need a camera (even a webcam and microphone, or even some mobile phones, will do the trick), and a free YouTube account. Follow the instructions available on YouTube for creating your account and uploading your video. Don’t have a camera? Borrow a friend’s.

And please write to itgetsbetter@gaygames.org to let us know you’ve posted your video. Make sure to give us the link to your video and your permission, if you choose, for us to post your video to this FGG blog.