It Gets Better

Despite all the positive strides in acceptance of gay people, there are still those who have trouble coming out or finding acceptance once they do. I can understand this. I came out to the first person ever around the time I was 21. (This is a story that maybe I’ll tell on here later.) This was the early 90s and not a time as open as they are now despite the friends I had at the time. (The theatre group and Rocky Horror cast) Since then, we’ve had shows like Will & Grace all the way through stuff like RuPaul’s Drag Race and 1 Girl 5 Gays. A lot has changed but there’s still not always the acceptance people need. While there’s a lot stronger acceptance, there’s still a lot of people on the opposite end of the spectrum like the Westboro Baptist Church. The increased acceptance has made it easier for kids to come out at an earlier age nowadays because of the increased support base they have but they are still dealing with those who believe being gay is wrong or a choice.

In 2010, a project came about called It Gets Better. This was means that while it’s tough coming out, things will be better. You’ll be able to accept who you are, you’ll be able to stand up for yourself more, you’ll find a group of people who will accept and support you, and you’ll be able to live your life as yourself where being gay is just one part of it and not something you need to worry about more than any other part. Especially following the increased visibility of gay teen suicides in the past year, projects like this are needed. Tonight, MTV and LOGO are running a show called It Gets Better which revolved around 3 young people and their struggles. The people involved span a good range including a gay male, a lesbian, and a transgender man. (I’m assuming the latter is FTM late in the process and not MTF early in it, though I could be wrong.) The gay male they chose is a very handsome white guy in great shape (It shows him working out in the gym.) so it will be interesting to see where they go with that one as someone that good looking would be easily accepted in the gay community. It would have been interesting to see someone who was overweight or less attractive where he might feel more excluded. I guess we’ll find out tonight though. Tune in and check it out. Anyone coming out can use all the support they can get.