President Obama has released his own video on the theme of It Gets Better, based on Dan Savage's call for adults to tell gay kids that life will get better and to please stick around long enough to see that. Mr. Obama starts by saying that he doesn't know what it's like to be bullied for being gay, but he does know what it's like to grow up feeling different.
"What I want to say is this: You are not alone. You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't do anything to deserve being bullied. There's a whole world out there waiting, filled with possibilities. There are people out there who love you and care about you, just the way you are. . . .
"The other thing you need to know is, things will get better. More than that, with time, you're going to see that your differences are a source of pride and a source of strength. You'll look back on the struggles you faced with compassion and wisdom, and that's not just going to serve you but it will help you get involved and make this country a better place. It'll mean you'll be more likely to help fight discrimination, not just against LGBT Americans, but discrimination in all its forms."
Americans who care about the rights of sexual minorities have plenty of reasons to be frustrated and even angry with President Obama and his administration. Still, I'm trying to think of another American president who could have given this talk -- and it is a talk, not a speech. This is a president, a father, talking to kids the same age as his daughters. President Lincoln in the YouTube age? President Clinton, plus 15 years? In a time when progress feels painfully slow, this counts.
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Whaat an excellent gesture. Hoping it's followed up with DADT repeal and other action as well.
What the President did was a wonderful gesture but MUST be FOLLOWED UP by actions. Children learn what they live. If children see that DADT is repealed and see that gay is an adjective the same as blue (to eyes) or brown (to hair) then and only then will they feel completely comfortable in their own skin.
The change must begin with ALL OF US! We must all stop using gay as if it is a four letter word. And most of all we MUST learn to love one another for who they are, whoever/whatever that may be!
The message is great, and I hope it does help kids having the President tell them that they have a bright future. I hope he can show these kids an example of "It gets better" with the repeal of DADT and DOMA. Still, a profound message. If messages like this save even one kid, it's worth it.
I have to say... while it's nice and all, Mr. President, I think it would mean a whole lot more for these kids if they weren't being told by our government that they're somehow second class citizens.
I do appreciate the gesture, but his empty explanations lately about what to do about these contributors to the environment make the video ring a little hollow.
amen, jess. amen. AMEN!
Right on Mr President!
It will be better when we can promise kids that if they stick around, they will have the same rights as their fellow citizens.
amen, jess. amen. AMEN!
I want these stupid policies over as much as anyone but I know that the Prez is trying to get it carved in stone. Depending for relief on one court case will just mudy the water. Congress or the S. Cty. could easily override a lower court decision. And what about an Exec. Order you say? Easy to wipe out with the stroke of a Republican pen. On this one, I trust Obama to see the big picture. We need to get this through congress someway, somhow so he can sign it into law. Then repeal wouldn't be easy... and it's more likely the Supremes would give some deference to the legislative process.
Right. An executive order to end DADT is temporary and would take the fight off the table. The White House knows that a SC decision or legislation from Congress is the best and most permanent solution.
As for DOMA, the courts appear to be taking care of that.
off the subject, but i'd like to be able to share on facebook, instead of just "liking" or "recommending"... i don't do the app platform b/c of fb's privacy policies. the only way i can post this on facebook is to post the youtube video directly, which skips giving the blog credit (not that you need it w/ over 250k 'likes' lol). anyway, just a personal preference: most other folks have both share and like/recommend buttons.
You can copy the url in the address bar and paste it into your Facebook status. That works for any web page too.
i know, but it's not the same. :)~
May I direct your analysis here please...cause she nails it.
http://www.autostraddle.com/obama-says-it-gets-better-63652/
This is great, though I find it sadly ironic that for Barack Obama, it actually hasn't gotten any better. The same pathetic a-holes who bullied him when he was young for being different are still bullying him for being different, only now it's much worse because they're better at being mean and they actually have an audience. Worst of all, these are adults who should know better (and often, who do know better but they've become professional bullies who earn a very nice living from their bullying).
Great post!!
Of course, instead of being a skinny kid, he's president of the US. So, in a sense it definitely gets better.
Dear Rachel,
Just last week you basted Obama for being wishy washy on DADT by his decision to throw it back to the Senate to fix.
Now you praise him for some PSA on bullying that takes it's roots from Gay bashing.
I am getting so tired of words with no actions and you should be too. THE LGBT community is misguided in their blind allegiance to this President on LGBT issues.
so you want to have John McCain in charge now?
Yeah, Imagine Jim DeMint and his ilk in control of policy. Obama is not a perfect advocate for LGBT rights in America, but he will sign bills that make it to his desk and he did himself proud in this PSA.
Beautiful message ... as are all of the "it gets better" videos. I greatly respect Mr. Obama for doing this clip. However, he still has major work to do - ending DADT and legalizing gay marriage - only then, with it truly be better.
I want to say HA! Tell us exactly HOW it gets better, President Obama -- but then I think. And I remember. I'm old enough to remember the big AIDS panic and how nobody would talk about it or do anything about it because it was a gay thing.
So for a while, no one would say gay. And then when they would say gay, it was ok to whisper it but you wouldn't say it around children. You certainly wouldn't speak specifically to LGBT youth. Just that he's done this is such a massive step forward for America. And maybe it's just words, but words are really powerful.
I'm still pretty critical of Obama, but the video in itself is a good thing. Historic even.
I love this man.
I have to say President Obama is a very smart man. It does get better. Junior high and high school can be very overwhelming when you are there. But, in the big scheme of things the day you graduate you ask yourself: why, did I let those people try to get the best of me....they are so five minutes ago, they are nobody in my life. They didn't give you shelter, buy your food, or put clothes on your back, they really are nobody....once they leave high school, they too have to learn what the big, bad world is about. Once you graduate high school everybody goes their separate ways, and unless you stay in your home town you won't see these people unless you go back to your class reunions. School is a place we need to go to further our advancement in life. It gets us over ready for the real world, as having to endure bullies, and learning to be social. Hopefully, you can take in enough to get in a decent college, get the respect you deserve, and get on with life. Nobody is worth taking your life for. Nobody.
Great message Mr. President.
Speaking of being bullied, imagine what he has been through since January 09. He has it coming from all sides. How soon people forget the mess GW left him with. And now, we have the mid-term elections, and the repubs are trying to get the word to everybody we need them in office to stop the President. No, we don't need them in office to stop the President. If President Obama hadn't done what he has done, this country would be so much worse off. Imagine another year with GW, we'd all be living in the gutter, and the repubs would rule the world, and we'd be asking them for crumbs. Please People see the light at the end of the tunnel, we do not need to send any repubs to Washington, we need to vote them out of office, before they sell us completely out to foreign countries.
By the way....you will never see me capitalize the word republican, to me they have set out to completely ruin the world for everybody!!
Truly excellent, thoughtful post. Thank you!
I agree with your comment that we should not give up hope because I too believe that a better day is coming slowly but surely. We elected Pres. Obama to change things but some of us wanted it yesterday and that cannot be. It takes time and support and right now POTUS needs our votes to get him the support he needs. Pres. Obama cannot do it alone, he's not a magician. So, now let's support our President and all vote on Nov.2!
I have faith in the pres. He has worked so hard to get things done. The republicans will not stop harassing him,and they brainwash people, that is why there are so many tea partys, I have never seen our country like this ,things have to get better,
I suppose this is okay, but his lip service gets a bit old after a time. He can toss an award to Harvey Milk, attend glittering A-list HRC fundraisers but when push comes to shove, our 'fierce advocate' is nowhere to be found. His closest adviser thinks we make 'lifestyle choices'. This administration is so politically inept they make the Carter operation look like FDR's first 100 days. I wish I could get excited by this video but actions speak louder than words.
I think he is full of crap, if he wanted to further gay rights it would also lessen bullying he has had 100 missed opportunities to follow through with his promises. I am ashamed to be an American and a Democrat. Obama does not keep his promises with the GLBT community, wake up people he does not give a crap about us do not vote for him again he is a liar.
I don't think you understand what Pres. Obama is trying to do! He knows the law and I believe that he wants DADT repealed permanently. He does not want to have to wait years for this to happen. If Congress passes it then all he has to do is sign it. If it goes through the courts, it can be in the court system for years. Pres. Obama says he wants this repealed in an orderly way and he promised that it will be done. Why don't you give him the benefit of the doubt!Keep the faith!
@Margie
I don't think telling people they don't understand what Obama is trying to do, is a good way to go about making the argument.
Some of us understand EXACTLY what his administration keeps saying they are doing, and we think it's bullpucky all the same.
There is precedent for letting the ruling stand without appeal. While we fart around with appeals and stays, peoples lives are being ruined.
We may understand the politics behind the decision, but we are livid at watching people's lives ruined while the political maneuvering goes on.
I do think that this would have more real credibility if he hadn't just asked to be able to re-implement DADT while the recent judgement against it is appealed. If he is for equality and respect, why ask for an institutional inequality and injustice to be continued as long as possible?
As a homosexual who wanted to join the military at 18 but didn't because of DADT and who still wants to get married to the woman of her dreams but cannot because of DOMA, I have been extremely frustrated with this administration on gay rights issues. However, I have to say that this is a very gutsy apolitical move on President Obama's part. He was given a lot of racist, xenophobic bull pucky the last time he dared speak to America's youth. This time he will no doubt lose political points with homophobic democrats and independents, yet he gave the address anyway. It makes me proud to say I voted for him, even when I knew that all my state's electoral votes would go to McCain. I filled in that oval.
Bravo, Mr. President! While the particular wording at the beginning of this announcement might have it's roots in the gay prejudices most recently prominent, bullying certainly isn't based solely on sexual orientation or race. Being poor, or smart, or too tall, or too short, or too thin, or too chubby, or having a single parent, or not being in sports, or not having a car, or not having a cell phone, or, or, or.... Any public service announcement by any adult addressing the bullying issue and bringing any ray of hope to any child/person in their time of need is to be applauded. When a child is bullied (for any "reason") into taking their own life it becomes a national problem, one that all adults need to address in any way they can. A bullied person who survives often carries their anger and feelings of inadequacy forward, coloring their years ahead.... Until they let that go, they are still in the grips of their abusers.
Not to worried about Obama
Gonna be a one termer anyway
Yeah, Mary, time to put in some more repubs to finish the catastrophic damage they created under Bush. Let's have President Palin and Vice President O'Donnell...Dumb and Dumber, with nary a functioning neuron between them. That will CERTAINLY fix things, right?
Yeah Mary. When your down and out, the GOP will be there to kick you when you're down. Yeah, keep praying for your own demise! Think about it!
Demand Equality, what the heck are you talking about? Pres. Obama said no such thing!
Clinton could've and would've. I liked Clinton when I was 15. He did go for the LGB and younth vote. I remember H.W. Bush being cranky and pretty much 'Get off my lawn! Why do I have to do this interview with the music televisions?' It's just that by the time I was 19 I was all "#!&* Clinton. Vote Nader!"
But you know, policy aside, it's still possible for an individual to achieve happiness without all the extra leg ups of privilege. And I would very much like kids to see tomorrow regardless of what the policies are. They'll live and then come 2012, if Democrats haven't delivered, they won't vote for them.
We already know the result of "Vote Nader" in 2000. I'm all for the Perfect Candidate. But I'm mostly for the BEST Candidate, cause in the end, that's what choice you REALLY have.
Think carefully about what you say and do.
Get out and VOTE, staying home allows the opposition to prosper
I was referring to the 1996 election. Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act which allowed all these state marriage bans in the first place. If I knew then what I know now, I not only would've voted for Nader, I would've campaigned harder for him.
If the LGBT vote is not important enough for Democrats to win elections, then you can't blame us when they lose.
LGBT voters isn't why Gore lost in 2000. He was just a terrible candidate.
I am not LGBT so there's a lot I don't get, BUT why do people think that President Obama can "fix" all these issues. Holy, Hannah! He's not God! He can't get inside the brains and hearts of the millions of people that walk around the USA that refuse to budge an inch on this issue. They truly believe it's a "lifestyle choice" that can be "un-choiced" instead of a DNA pattern. They don't want to change and they hate the President for even addressing the issue in any form. He can't pass legislation without the help of Congress and if all his supporters are pissed at his lack of action and don't vote for favorable congressmen, well then, the opposition wins because they WILL vote for the radical right who will make things even worse. Think about the Supreme Court justices who need to be pulled back to the middle too. At least you have a President who isn't afraid to address the issue out loud. Quit being stupid!
It doesn't take a god. It takes a human leader.
@jmlow55
You're absolutely right. He is one man, with almost half a country against him. Millions of people DO believe irrational, sometimes insane things. At the same time though, being a visible minority or LGBT doesn't automatically make a person rational or non-descriminatory - gay or straight, white or black, humans are humans and our collective flaw is irrational behaviour. He can't change America's irrational nature, but its a damn good thing he came along when he did.
I think Obama is doing a great job under the circumstances. The mess in our country has been a long time in the making, and I doubt even Obama could turn it around completely, even in two terms, should he make it a second round. I also trust that he knows the laws and the way the Senate and the House operate much better than most of us do, and that he is laying the groundwork for making things better in the future. How well he is truly doing may not be evident until well after he has left office; I just don't want a Republican back in the saddle if it can be avoided.
Doing a PSA doesnt require the senate. Doing a PSA doesnt require congress. Doing a PSA doesnt need votes. Just do what's right.