Michael Kors On Being Gay: I Was Called Every Name Growing Up (VIDEO)

Michael Kors is the newest member of the fashion community to record a message for the "It Gets Better" campaign by The Trevor Project for struggling LGBT youth. He tells the camera, "When I was growing up I heard every name called to me....you name it." He said as a gay youth, "You feel different. You really feel different, you don't fit in. You are different. But you know what? Different will turn out to be a great thing for you," adding, "If I was like everybody else, I couldn't do what I do. I couldn't be Michael Kors."

Tim Gunn also recorded a message for the same campaign. Check out his video here.

WATCH Michael Kors:

Comments

[HealthyDayLA]

07:18 PM on 10/22/2010

Michael Kors is such a beautiful gay man inside and out. When I met him once, he had this intense gorgeous energy about him. Michael, if you read this I HEART YOU!

[Patchdee]

11:54 AM on 10/22/2010

Thank you Michael Kors. I have always liked you on Project Runway, but your eloquence and gentleness in this video makes me really love you! I am a 63 year old straight woman and your words brought a huge lump to my throat and tears to my eyes.

I hope more celebrities come forward with personal messages. Our young LGBT people need all the support and affirmation that we can provide.

[Sk8TN]

02:18 PM on 10/21/2010

There is always tolerance.org, from the Southern Poverty Law Center, that tackles bullying based on all characteristics, including race, orientation, medical conditions, etc.

[Virginia M. Moncrieff]

11:35 AM on 10/20/2010

God bless you Michael.

[Jdaddy1951]

09:51 AM on 10/20/2010

“My introduction to sex of any kind came in the backseat of a car in 1966 in which I was pulled into by four "straight" jocks who raped me. I was called all sorts of anti-gay epithets, beaten up and threatened with death if I told anyone.

I didn't tell for 30 years. I blamed myself for bringing the event on myself. Instead, I set about reinventing myself as someone who would appear "straight" in the way I walked, the way I talked and in the company I kept. One way I did that was to walk down the hallways of my school and look every one of my attackers in the eye: Doing so helped me realize they were afraid of me as much as I was afraid of them.

After high school, I became a classic Type A control freak. I'd shout down anyone who disagreed with me and insisted on taking charge of any project I undertook. I married, had children and was constantly on guard for any signs of seeming "gay."

At age 40, I had a nervous breakdown. During the recovery process, in a mental health counselor's office, I said out loud, while in a fetal position, the words, "I'm gay" for the first time.

Since then, I've had opportunity to confront one of my assailants since then, but did not take advantage of it. He has to live with himself. I'm fine with who I am and that's all that matters.”

[KJLSanDiego]

12:43 PM on 10/20/2010

You are very brave to talk about this, and I am sorry you went through such an ordeal!

[Jdaddy1951]

02:48 PM on 10/20/2010

I am, too, and thanks for your kind words. But my point is that I survived this --- not easily by any means --- at a very young age and in a time when people did not speak openly about such things. Kids nowadays need to know that they are not the first (and sadly, not the last) to have every been tormented and that there are many of us out there whom they can talk to who will understand.

The title of a poem by Dylan Thomas seems fitting: "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night." Although it was written for his father, it would seem to apply to people of any age. It's a cry for a loved one not to give up, to fight back, and to hold on for another day. Life throws terrible things at us some times, but we CAN survive them, it does get better, and if we speak out, justice will find us --- and the horrible people who hurt us.

[Hookedonfashion]

12:06 AM on 10/21/2010

I am so sorry you were raped. That is just awful.

Glad that you sought counseling and have accepted yourself for who you are. You are probably a better parent because of it too.

[Jdaddy1951]

07:23 AM on 10/21/2010

The incident and the counseling are all long in the past. I don't discuss it much any more, but I decided it was time to do it because bad things are still happening to gay kids.

Gay teens are bullied because we as adults send messages to the kids that bully them that its OK to do so. We do it as parents, as teachers, as coaches and from the pulpits. It's time to stop sending those messages.

Let's get angry and stand up and fight back for our children's lives.

[mmgbizgirl]

11:22 PM on 10/19/2010

such a good thing.

[MaryscottOConnor]

05:52 PM on 10/19/2010

Amen. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Hang in there, kids. We're all pulling for you. Joke 'em if they can't take a... well, you know.

[nova1215]

03:50 PM on 10/19/2010

I hope these recent tragic deaths will move the debate of gay and lesbian rights from homosexuality and its impact on straight people (the recent DADT debate and the passage of Prop 8 in CA) to instead focus on the often devistating consequences homophobia has had on some of our fellow Americans' lives.

[vippy]

02:46 PM on 10/19/2010

Do tell those people, who are so certain that you have a choice, exactly when you decided to become gay. Too bad intelligent people have no clue, you are what you are and that goes for all of us.

[ColoradoCool]

12:48 PM on 10/19/2010

I think it's wonderful that gay celebrities are stepping up and giving encouragement to vulnerable kids. It warms my heart. It's awful to feel different and alone when all you desperately want as a child is to fit in.

My eight year old grandson who is very bright told me this weekend that some of the kids at school had made fun of him for having some advanced and creative ideas about art and science that he expresses by talking about "my world". I was able to sit down at the computer with him and show him some art by such creative artists as Salvador Dali, Vincent Van Gogh and Homonymous Bosch and explain that sometimes being different in some way can be a very good thing. Luckily, he goes to a school were he has a lot of bright, creative friends to hang out with who really like his ideas.

Being different can be a good thing but it doesn't always feel good to a child unless he or she has encouragement to help them embrace their uniqueness and feel strong about their gifts and their potential.

[martyfrancom]

01:22 PM on 10/19/2010

I think this particular campaign is silly ... they're specifically talking to gays yet EVERYONE gets teased or called names at some point (as you point out about your grandson). I don't believe that this is helpful at all since gays are not along in being teased or picked on. ALL bullying has to stop.

[bsc]

01:49 PM on 10/19/2010

this campaign is wonderful. gay adults can relate to a particular experience that gay kids are going through. it is helpful to know that other people who are gay have turned out to be successful and happy. That knowledge can get gay kids through some very tough times. I agree that lots of kids are bullied but that does not devalue this particular program.

[CDMelty]

02:56 PM on 10/19/2010

But it is particularly bad, specifically and differently bad, to be told by your own country that you aren't worthy to die for it, that you have no chance to ever grow up, fall in love, and get married. To face possible eviction by your own parents, and to see everyone around you crush and date and go to prom, and not feel that you can do the same thing. In some cases, you aren't allowed to bring a date to a school dance. When I was in high school, the PE teacher tried to have me banned from the locker room, and finally just made me stay in a secluded corner behind a bank of lockers. Anti-gay bullying is not the same as regular bullying, but yes- both types have to stop.