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Stefan Sirucek

Stefan Sirucek

Posted: October 13, 2010 04:21 PM

Yesterday Forth Worth, TX City Councilman Joel Burns spoke out about the rash of recently reported suicides among gay teenagers as the result of bullying.

Burns spoke about his own experiences as a gay teenager and broke down describing a time when the bullying was so bad that he considered taking his own life. He goes on to describe the happiness he later found and encourages young people who may be struggling not to lose hope, saying: "Give yourself a chance to see just how much better life will get. And it will get better."

It's a powerful and inspiring speech and well worth watching to the end.

For more check out the "It Gets Better Project" started by columnist Dan Savage, which features hundreds of video messages to gay youth and victims of bullying.

http://www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject

 

Follow Stefan Sirucek on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sirstefan

Yesterday Forth Worth, TX City Councilman Joel Burns spoke out about the rash of recently reported suicides among gay teenagers as the result of bullying. Burns spoke about his own experiences as a g...
Yesterday Forth Worth, TX City Councilman Joel Burns spoke out about the rash of recently reported suicides among gay teenagers as the result of bullying. Burns spoke about his own experiences as a g...
 
 
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01:54 PM on 10/15/2010
This video is truly amazing. Not gonna lie, I cried like a bitch.
11:04 AM on 10/15/2010
~ Bullying is wrong, regardless of who is being bullied or why... It needs to stop! Schools have to take more responsibility for what is going on inside their walls and NO MORE can they use the excuse that they didn't know what was happening! Schools are being run with the same efficiency as Tony Hayward ran BP! While kids are inside the school walls, the school is ultimately responsible for what is happening there!
05:25 AM on 10/15/2010
I agree with the other commenters before me. We need more people like Joel Burns in the world.

There's no excuse for the kids who bully or for the adults, the preachers, or the politicians who enable it with their indifference or their own hateful actions and words.
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RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
01:17 PM on 10/15/2010
Thank you...!
05:49 PM on 10/15/2010
Thank you for being such a wonderful person! Love your comments and your enthusiasm.
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Flower Power 68
Part Stewart, Aragon, & Plantagenet. ALL American.
09:13 PM on 10/15/2010
I agree. Some kids don't get the idea of tolerance right off; it's something that they have to learn. That's a bit hard to do when they have "adults" (for lack of a better term) screeching hatred and suspicion towards those who're perceived as somehow different.
Tim Paynter
Activist, attorney, humano!
03:10 AM on 10/15/2010
We must encourage those who suffer discrimination to hang on. It is easy to focus on a few who use hate for power and forget many more who use acceptance and love. I used to think the "acceptance" people were boring. Now I realize I was just a masochist. This message from conservative Texas City is refreshing and one we must pass along!
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RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
01:12 PM on 10/15/2010
Fanned...truly....thank you..!
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Leon Hodgkinson
01:20 AM on 10/15/2010
That was one of the best things I have ever seen. Wicked respect for this guy.
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02:24 AM on 10/14/2010
We need more people like Joel Burns in the world.
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Flower Power 68
Part Stewart, Aragon, & Plantagenet. ALL American.
01:56 PM on 10/14/2010
I agree so much. He seems like a kind, thoughtful, and intelligent person; a really good role model for kids who're going through the same things-to let them know that there really is light at the end of the tunnel.
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RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
01:08 PM on 10/15/2010
Fanned and faved...I really love your avatar...takes me back..! (if only!)
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Bob Kellerman
Let's have more sanity toward each other
05:25 PM on 10/13/2010
IF I WERE GOD FOR A DAY

EVERY CHURCH would play this video on Sunday,
and have an honest discussion about it.

(ok, and I would ask God to educate the few people who refused him the standing ovation)
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RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
12:59 PM on 10/15/2010
Fanned..! It made me proud to see this brave and most manly of gentlemen, show others how real men are to conduct themselves .....I also noticed the ones who didn't applaud..perhaps they were overcome with emotion??...at any rate ...I sent him an email of congratulations and well-done...we ALL need to do a better job of identifying and dealing with bullies...because bullies have bullies and so it goes, another generation guaranteed....
Thank you for your wise and wonderful comment!