Queer bullying, It Gets Better

Hi All,

The rate of queer suicide in America at the moment is shocking and so so sad it leaves me depressed and speechless.

Today I'm just going to share a few videos involved in the Trevor Project with the theme of "It Gets Better" and I'm also going to share my own story.

The main point of all this is that the suicides HAVE to stop, these kids who could grow up to be the most INCREDIBLE of adults are dying young before they even have a chance to prove themselves and it's all because of the bullying they experience in school.
They feel hated, they feel like they're not wanted but as Harvey Milk said "You are not sick, you are not wrong, God does not hate you".

Harvey Milk was an incredible queer activist and I think it would be well worth anyone's while to watch the movie Milk to see the difference he made in the world.

It makes me sad that I feel like I will never be able to change the world. I have tried in the past in some capacity, as you'll read in my story but I don't know how I can continue to save people and change the views of homophobic people.
How can I, an unknown person, save millions of people who feel like dying is the only way or that the world is better without them?
I don't know what to do anymore but I NEED to do something.

First up, here is a video of an American member of council Joel Burns who, in the middle of a council session shares his story about growing up gay and encourages teens that things get better if you can only wait to see that happen. It's a very emotional clip and I cried for 10 minutes straight.

The next is a message from my personal idol Ellen DeGeneres. It's short but gets the message out loud and clear.

Just a couple more. This one is a story from an average gay couple named Dan and Terry who's love conquered all.

This message is from Neil Patrick Harris who plays Barney in How I Met Your Mother, a programme I love. This man is usually so so hilarious but clearly he can be serious when he needs to be.

The last message is from Tim Gunn from Project Runway.

There are many more normal people and celebrities sharing their stories online if you search "It gets better project" on Youtube or google the "Trevor Project" you can find them but for now, here is my story and my message to queer youth:

"This is a message to go along with the videos by celebrities such as Ellen De Generes, Tim Gunn and Neil Patrick Harris in the campaign to tell queer youth that it is all going to be okay and that things do get better as you get older.

I know I’m not famous like any of those people, although I do one day dream of being as great as them, but right now I’m just an average teenager, who has not made a clear, final decision on her sexuality but knows what it’s like to grow up in an environment of hate and torment.

I left high-school two years ago but while I was there, I had strong feelings for girls and decided it was in my best interests to come out. The bullying I felt after making that decision was cruel and unyielding, something I wouldn’t even wish on my worst enemy.

The group I hung out with at school was often pelted with bags of half eaten fruit or vinegar bombs or rocks and try as we may none of the staff at school ever listened to us about the abuse we were experiencing on a daily basis or ever even attempted to do anything to stop it.

I created a gay/straight alliance type group in my last year at school to try and help and support queer youth at school and give us a place to go to get away from the relentless bullying but also to try to encourage anyone who was in the closet to realise that there was a safe place for them to be who they were at school, even if it was only in a small group.

But all this is history for me now. I studied Journalism last year and gained a diploma in an environment of caring, supportive classmates who, although they knew my sexuality, never judged me, bullied me or made me feel like less of a person.

It was that moment when I realised that in the real world, being gay, bi or lesbian doesn’t change how people think of you. They are most often supportive of you as a person, no matter who you love.

There are also gay bars and clubs, a gay fair and gay Olympics where it is safe to be who you are because everyone else has also been through the same things you have.

So, it does get better, take it from someone who knows and often open minded people admire those with the courage and strength to come out, particularly if they’re willing to speak out and use their experience to try and help others as well.

We’ve all felt lost, confused, hurt and suicidal but those feeling’s don’t mean the end of the world, it’s only the beginning of your journey and the path does get smoother as you venture onwards.

The cliché is true that what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger and queer youth are living proof of that when they grow up to become the strongest of adults, the pillars of our society.

There is no need for queer teenagers with so much potential to die.

Queer people have been known to do great things as adults, even in New Zealand, look at politicians like Grant Robertson, Chris Carter, or even Georgina Beyer who have really made a difference to our country by being out and open about their sexuality.

My main message is this: Never be afraid to be who you are, you are the ones who bring colour and light into this grey old world. Be proud and be strong."

Thanks for reading,
Varelai.