Since its creation in 2010, the It Gets Better Program has spawned more than 60,000 videos in support of LGBT youth. When it first started, it seemed we were bombarded by so many stories of how lives did get better. The campaign seemed to be a success. We still have LGBT youth taking their own lives, giving up. It tells us that we cannot stop telling our young LGBT members that it does and will get better.
Released on October 10th, just in time for National Coming Out Day, New York Fire Department members shared their personal stories about how it got better for them.
The FDNY has released its first ever “It Gets Better” video, in support of the It Gets Better Project. The Project's mission is to communicate to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth around the world that life gets better, and to create and inspire the changes needed to improve quality of life for them. In the FDNY-produced video, twelve active FDNY Firefighters, Paramedics, EMTs discuss the challenges they faced throughout their lives and the success they have found both as adults, as members of New York’s Bravest.
“As Firefighters, Paramedics and EMTs in the most diverse city in the world, FDNY members have the tremendous opportunity to inspire young people through their brave work every single day,” said Commissioner Nigro. “Through this video, they deliver an important message to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth around the world – it absolutely does get better.” – youtube.com
“With their It Gets Better video, the brave men and women of the FDNY have made a powerful statement in support of LGBT youth,” said Brett M. Peters, Director of Communications for the It Gets Better Project. “By fostering such a welcoming community in the workplace, the FDNY is helping lead the way in encouraging LGBT young people to be whoever they want to be.” – youtube.com
Bravo FDNY. You have always been full of role models and here's just another way you carry on and expand that tradition. By the end of the video, I was convinced my life was going to get better. beautiful people and beautiful stories.
There were so many great one liners of support in this video, but one of my favorite was … "You get to be you at some point. You just have to get there."
We're a little late in our coverage of this, but it is never too late and there are never too many times we can tell fellow LGBT members that "It Gets Better."
The video can also be viewed by visiting http://www.itgetsbetter.org/ and on the FDNY’s website, http://www.nyc.gov/fdny.
Photos : Upworthy