Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns’ “It Gets Better” speech was up to more than 1.5 million views on YouTube as of Monday morning, when Burns was interviewed live on The Today Show by Matt Lauer.
“I remember being shocked, stunned, when it got to 5,000 [views],” Burns told Lauer. “I couldn’t believe it, and it’s just gone from there, so obviously that’s a little overwhelming, but I think it’s indicative of where we are at in society. … I’ve received over 20,000 e-mails so far and I have an entire army of friends helping me cull through those to make sure there is no crisis that is missed, but yes, there are stories from people, kids, who are saying they are contemplating, this week, taking their lives.”
It wasn’t cool to be gay when I was in school in the 60’s but you are right, it gets better. I am now 65 an I’ve had a wonderful life. Thank you for speaking out.
Schools and religious organizations need to work on helping gay students to be pro-active on their own behalf. Most of the education I see approaches teenaged gays as victims, as poor and helpless and hapless, easy to love and feel pity for. What they need to be taught is that no matter what Hell you are going through you can demand your parents help you, you can insist the adults at your school set the wheels in motion for strict enforcement of civil behavior in the school to everyone, you can refused to simply live with misery. It’s never too early to learn this lesson. It doesn’t make the Hell Heaven but it does mean moving from being battered to taking control of your life. The other lesson: You won’t always be going to this school, living in this town or even depending on your parents. It gets better.