Hillary Clinton 'It Gets Better' Video Offers Support To Gay Teens

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has joined the chorus of celebrities offering support to gay teenagers who are suffering from bullying, advising them to "hang in there and ask for help."

In a videotaped message posted Tuesday on YouTube, Clinton said she was saddened by recent suicides by young people who were bullied for being gay, or because people thought they were gay.

"These most recent deaths are a reminder that all Americans have to work harder to overcome bigotry and hatred," Clinton said.

Anti-gay bullying has been in the spotlight recently after the suicides of several teenagers. The victims included Asher Brown, 13, of Houston, who shot himself with his father's handgun, and Tyler Clementi, 18, the Rutgers University freshman who jumped off the George Washington Bridge in New York after his roommate secretly recorded him with another male student, then broadcast the video online.

Relationship and sex advice columnist Dan Savage started the "Itgetsbetterproject" channel on YouTube in September in response to the latest teen suicides. While Clinton's message appears on the State Department's YouTube channel, it appears to be the latest to echo Savage's cause.

"I have a message for all the young people out there who are being bullied, or who feel alone and find it hard to imagine a better future: First of all, hang in there and ask for help," Clinton said. "Your life is so important -- to your family, your friends, and to your country. And there is so much waiting for you, both personally and professionally -- there are so many opportunities for you to develop your talents and make your contributions."

Clinton said she is "grateful every day" for the work of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees at the State Department.

"It wasn't long ago that these men and women would not have been able to serve openly, but today they can -- because it has gotten better," Clinton said. "And it will get better for you."

WATCH:

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Online:

http://www.youtube.com/glifaa

Comments

[Sobitha Yuhendran]

07:20 PM on 11/01/2010

It takes a whole heap of courage for politicians especially of such global status to offer their support to such a controversial issue through youtube and other media sources, well done!

Now, just imagine what people in the LGBT community must face on a daily basis right from the beginning of their entire existence and being, that I believe is a whole new level of courage!

Let's just all get along :)

[ebranson]

11:14 PM on 10/22/2010

I love Hillary.

[esseff44]

12:05 PM on 10/22/2010

The messages from Secretary Clinton and President Obama were well-done and I kept trying to put myself in the shoes of a teen being bullied for being different. I know it would have helped when I was one of them decades ago. That they cared enough to make these messages means a lot. It means a lot to know that anyone cares and that is what makes the difference. It is better already when people show they care.

[Michael Lindley]

10:11 AM on 10/22/2010

Nice message. Let me add in my 2¢ as someone that came out in 1975!!

I wish we would get away from the "is it genetic or is it a choice?" issue. Because we are all free to have sex or love the people that we choose to, regardless of their sex and with age and the existence of blood ties really the only qualifiers. There is nothing illegal about being a homosexual person, no is it unconstitutional.

Finally, tell everyone you are gay and have all your friends tell everyone they are gay! Why? Because you will know who to trust and who not to trust, especially those in your family. You may not be able to trust your parents and your family if they know you are gay. And then have your friends tell others that they are gay so they can see and feel what you are going through. They will be more understanding and supportive of you. They'll see it doesn't make any difference amongst friends.

I was always happy to be gay. I've had a wonderful life. It hasn't been easy, but sexuality is not a determining factor in how easy or happy your life is. Your choices about all of life's aspect are very important. Don't let being gay, being weak or being embarrassed stop you. Have a laugh about it and move on. But be yourself, because everyone else is already taken! ;-)

[Sobitha Yuhendran]

06:41 PM on 11/01/2010

It has been really lovely reading your comment! I am not gay, but that doesn't really matter your post still put a smile on my face! Excellent message!

[Erin DeCaprio]

08:27 AM on 10/22/2010

The support for gay teens from so many different kind of people...famous and not-so-famous, writers, local and world leaders, entertainers...is so wonderful. I would actually encourage ANYONE to watch some of these videos from Dan Savage's It Gets Better Project. The message is something that everyone needs to hear, because even if you're not gay and even if you're not bullied, it's good to be reminded that high school isn't the be-all, end-all of human success. It gets better...for pretty much everyone.

[David Speakman]

06:06 AM on 10/21/2010

I hope she continues setting the example for the rest of the current administration on how to treat the LGBT community with respect.

It seems her boss sees us as a bunch of uppity folks you can make part with their money with empty promises.

[Michael Dumas 1]

12:03 PM on 10/22/2010

Ha! Some of you are whiny and uppity! And I say that as a gay male. You don't get everything you want when and how you want it. I may agree with you in wanting the president to be more aggressive on this. But frankly, I think creating jobs is more important than DADT or DOMA. If he can continue to get us out of this economic hole (which actually, he deserves more credit for, already), he will then have the political power to be more aggressive on LGBT issues. For now, there are things going on behind the scenes, and you have a president and secretary of state who record videos supporting LGBT youth. It's not everything we want. And we should push for more. But would this have happened with a President McCain? Or a future President Palin or Romney or Huckabee or Gingrich?

[David Speakman]

04:07 AM on 10/23/2010

How is DADT *not* about jobs? It's about firing people *from* their jobs because they are gay.

[FiscalConservativesUnite]

12:14 AM on 10/21/2010

Tomorrow will only be better when Obama isn't in office. Democrats have the record of being anti-gay, remember Clinton passed DOMA and DADT.

[David Speakman]

06:11 AM on 10/21/2010

NO. Congress passed DADT and DOMA with veto-proff majorities. Stop re-writing history.
Clinton was powerless where DADT and DOMA were concerned.

[Michael Lindley]

10:20 AM on 10/22/2010

There is no re-writing of history. DOMA couldn't have passed without Bill Clinton and Democratic support. 14 of 99 Senators voted no (all Dems but the Dems had a majority) and only 67 Representatives, including 1 Republican, voted no. The Dems are very hypocritical about their record on gay issues. The Republicans just happen to be more honest about their unconstitutional aversion to gay rights. The Dems could have filibustered it but were afraid to.

The cowered to the right-wing hysteria machine. The vote was just before the 1996 elections, done by the Republicans as part of the culture war and the value-less Democrats went right along with it to keep from pissing off conservative independents. The Republicans gained three seats in the Senate.

Barney Frank voted FOR DADT. C'mon, if that isn't a turkey voting for Thanksgiving, I don't know what one is!

[RODERICK098]

06:25 PM on 10/21/2010

More lies from the right. The Rethugs forced this policy on Clinton. Clinton pushed for gays to be co0pletely accepted in the armed forces like many countries in Europe and Canada-plocies that have nbeen in effect for years-another sign of how conservatives are destroyiing this country and making it more and more backward. Conservatives have a way of blaming their own policies on others and this post is a prime example of that.

[Michael Lindley]

10:22 AM on 10/22/2010

If the President signs a bill, it's his law, that is how it works. Clinton is not defendable here. He should have made it go to a veto override, which DOMA would have since the bill won in the Senate and the House by more than 2/3rds majority. He signed it. It's his.

[pinball702]

12:01 AM on 10/21/2010

"Clinton said she is "grateful every day" for the work of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees at the State Department."

Gee, how condescending.

[RODERICK098]

06:27 PM on 10/21/2010

How condescending????????? Zero fans for a reason?????

[esseff44]

12:47 PM on 10/22/2010

Since when is gratitude and appreciation condescending? Since when is trying to give hope for a better future to teens in despair condescending? There was absolutely nothing like condescension in her message or attitude.

[conservicide]

12:01 AM on 10/21/2010

Who ARE these bullies, I mean they are straight out of a comic book. Bullying is so last century. I have to believe their are plenty of innate "defenders" out there.

[UniversalStop]

08:18 AM on 10/22/2010

Are you insane?

Have you been to a high school?

[TorhamZed]

07:32 PM on 10/20/2010

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

[RedBirdy]

06:59 PM on 10/20/2010

Thank you Hillary. As a gay myself, I felt Hillary would've been a tremendous ally to the gay community if she would've become POTUS, which is why I supported her during the primaries.

I was a lucky gay kid. I had my share of playground fights, but I was never bullied. I was surrounded in school and around the neighborhood by bothers that all the girls liked and all the boys were afraid of, a very protective father and gang of cousins. I'm sure kids talked about me lots, but none ever bullied me. I teased a girl in 9th grade once and she cried... 14 years later, I still apologize to her. I still feel guilty. Luckily for me, she offered forgiveness.

I think teachers, parents, neighbors etc need to be aware of what's going on. Stop it when you see it. Call parents when their kids misbehave and bully... not just teachers, neighbors too. I had a healthy fear of my parents and if a neighbor called to tell on me, it was taken seriously. Kids, gay straight, whatever are bullied every day. It has to end. With computers it's even easier to target kids. No kid should feel suicide is the easier alternative.

[dlaurels]

06:17 PM on 10/20/2010

While I am very glad that people are speaking up in support of the kids who get bullied. I think it is very important to remember kids who are not gay get bullied every day of the week. The schools really try not to notice bullying. They don't want to go near it. However, the bullying is happening on school grounds. This is the one place it happens the most. School administrators have got to take responsibility and stop this nonsense. My son was bullied for most of his child hood. He is not gay, but for whatever reason (one being that he was very intelligent), he was picked on from day one. It was very hard on both of us. I spoke to the school more than once without much of anything being done. All adults have to stand up against bullying. And, children from P-K on need to taught to have respect for each other.

[David Speakman]

06:13 AM on 10/21/2010

No one is doubting that. But non-gay kids are four times less likely to be driven to suicide - primarily because they are not too ashamed of themselves to turn to parents, teachers or clergy for help.

[Never Again]

05:22 PM on 10/20/2010

While a nice gesture, HRC scored an 89 out of 100 for her support of gay rights in her last year as a senator as ranked by Human Rights Campaign. There were eleven 100s that year. HRC is against gay marriage. If you don't support full equality, you lack credibility when it comes to gay rights and issues related to our institutionalized discrimination.

[cybersense]

05:50 PM on 10/20/2010

You don't have to be completely for it, to want those who are dying because of being bullied not to.

Also, not sure about something here. Not everyone is as comfortable with this as the next. I have no problems with it, but there are plenty who are - apparently, am I right? HRC is perfectly acceptable person to be doing this. She has long fought for civil rights. Perhaps stuck on the marriage thing, but any further and she would probably slap the heck out of anyone doing any harm to gay persons or anyone else she felt was being mistreated and bullied.

[Reading Huff]

06:40 PM on 10/20/2010

Were any of the eleven running for President? She is very credible to this gay. There is no doubt in my mind that if elected President, HRC would have supported gay marriage, but she had to get there first.

[Michael Lindley]

10:25 AM on 10/22/2010

Until a major politician comes out and says that all discrimination by the federal government against LGBT people is unconstitutional because the constitution has the 9th amendment, then I don't think they can be called pro-gay rights or have a very thorough understanding of the 9th amendment. If a state wants to discriminate and it has no equal protection clause, then that is constitutional. But the US government does not have a constitutional right to treat homosexual people differently from heterosexual people because the political parties think they can get votes out of it.

[MsVella]

05:10 PM on 10/20/2010

Shame she didn't mention transgendered individuals too,

But great message of course :)

[Mel Rook]

05:39 PM on 10/20/2010

I agree. Transgendered teens are at a higher risk for abuse because they wear their gender identity literally on their sleeves or in the lengths of their hair and are often brutally beaten for having the courage to express their true selves.

Evolution is a painful, and painfully slow process. You can either help or get the hell out of the way.

[jmcfan2]

05:09 PM on 10/20/2010

And for whoever said that they don't see Hillary extending federal benifits to her state employees

http://nicholaskralev.com/2010/03/16/gay-diplomats-get-key-benefits/

It's not everything its a start.