Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – President Barack Obama submitted a video for the “It Gets Better” project, which has featured gay and gay-friendly celebrities speaking out to youths about the current bullying and gay suicide epidemic. President Obama wants to fight against discrimination, against LGBT Americans or anyone.
“Like all of you, I was shocked and saddened by the deaths of several young people who were bullied and taunted for being gay, and who ultimately took their own lives,” President Barack Obama said in the video. “As a parent of two daughters, it breaks my heart. It’s something that just shouldn’t happen in this country.”
“We’ve got to dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage—that it’s some inevitable part of growing up. It’s not,” President Obama continued. “We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe for all of our kids.”
Since the “It Gets Better” project launched, from “Savage Love” columnist Dan Savage, the award-winning project has received videos from celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, Tim Gunn, and Kathy Griffin. In their videos, they all encouraged young LGBT adults and anyone currently affected by bulling to stay strong.
President Obama’s video was posted both by Savage on his blog as well as on the White House website.
“I don’t know what it’s like to be picked on for being gay,” President Obama said.” But I do know what it’s like to grow up feeling that sometimes you don’t belong. It’s tough.”
“But what I want to say is this. You are not alone,” he continued.” You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t do anything to deserve being bullied. And there is a whole world waiting for you, filled with possibilities. There are people out there who love you and care about you just the way you are.”
But Savage also challenges President Obama to not just say it gets better, but to make things better. The video comes amidst the administration’s appealing of recent “don’t ask, don’t tell” efforts and the Defense of Marriage Act.
“The president of the United States has the power to do more than assure LGBT kids that it will get better,” Savage said on CNN Friday. “The president of the United States and his administration have the power to make it better.”
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