I know I know, its been forever since I've updated this thing but I figure its time I get crackin' again. I've got a lot to ramble about but for the moment I'd like to talk about what just aired on television.
You may or may not have heard of the "It gets better project". If not, please take a look at this link http://www.itgetsbetter.org
Today during an episode of the show "Glee" (a show I am a giant fan of) Google chrome aired a commercial promoting the it gets better project. Take a look at the commercial here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skPnJOZYdA
All I could think the whole time watching this, was how absolutely beautiful it was. Something like this airing on national television... I think it really goes to show that the future of gay youth is looking bright and pretty, which means the gay community as a whole is moving up in the world.
I find it sad that so frequently, we shut out others for being different. But what I think is worse, is the way we shut out ourselves. We all have this image of who we want to be. The rockstar. The popular kid. The ladies man. And for some, all they want is "normal", whatever that may be. But who we want to be and who we are, are often two entirely different things. You hear it all the time, people encouraging others to be the person they want to be. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with personal growth and achieving goals. However, it bothers me that I don't hear people encouraging others to simply accept who they are as is more often.
Being gay or transgendered has been considered a "flaw" or an "abnormality" for so long. Lets be serious, everyone is a little bit gay. There is a very large population of LGBTQ people in the world. And not only that, but even many straight people have had gay thoughts or experiences. Far more then you might think (and just because some might deny it doesn't mean its not true) if anything, being LGBTQ is a normal thing.
Seeing a commercial air like that gives me hope that more people may be getting that through their heads.
I plan on dedicating a large part of my life to fighting for gay rights, and helping LGBT youth. I've grown up queer in a part of the country where anything outside of a scene from the stepford wives is socially unacceptable. Had I seen something like the It gets better project when I was 13 and had just come out to myself, I would have spent much less time slamming my head against the wall and more time learning to love myself.
Tonight, I sit and wonder how many gay, trans, bisexual, and questioning kids and teens saw that little commercial and realized they aren't alone in this. That there are people in the world who care, who they can talk to. That they are perfect, just the way they are.
The concept of the google chrome commercial was beautiful. "The web is what you make of it". It shows that all people can make an impact on anything. It shows people who have made an impact. People like to complain all the time that the internet is eating the minds of everyone who uses it. truthfully, the internet has given us an opportunity like no other to save lives. To give support. To receive support. To open up to ourselves and to others. We ALL now have communication with the world like we never have before in all of history. The web is what you make of it.
Big thanks to google and the it gets better project for airing that commercial tonight. It gives me hope that maybe, someday, people wont be so afraid to talk about these things like they are now.
-CS
