WASHINGTON -- Now that gays and lesbians can serve openly in the military, some service members are attempting to help others through struggles similar to the ones they faced under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
A group of soldiers, sailors and airmen deployed to the massive American base in Bagram, Afghanistan, released a video on Saturday for the It Gets Better project. The initiative, started by prominent gay pundit Dan Savage, seeks to prevent suicides by LGBT youth through encouraging videos.
"You never know really what to expect in life, but if you believe in yourself you can be able to do anything," says Army Staff Sgt. Steven Procter. "So just look at everyone around you, make some good friends and anyone who will accept you for who you are as you try to make something of yourself. Don't allow anyone to tell you you can't do anything."
Procter is one of five members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force who appear in the video. While others in the military have submitted videos to It Gets Better from combat zones, the group made this latest spot in a more official capacity. All are members of the Bagram chapter of OutServe, an organization that supports gays and lesbians on active duty. He and several others give short messages before posing with an "It Gets Better" sign at various locations around Bagram Airfield. Naturally, Lada Gaga's "Born This Way" plays in the background.