Plymouth State University produces 'It Gets Better' video aimed at providing hope to LGBT youth

PLYMOUTH — Plymouth State University has produced a video, titled "It Gets Better," aimed at providing hope to gay young people who, because of their sexual orientation, may face bullying and harassment.

Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) kids and teens often hide their sexuality for fear of bullying and are at a much higher risk of suicide. Without other openly gay adults and mentors in their lives, they can't imagine what their future may hold.

The “It Gets Better Project” began a year ago, after syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage created a YouTube video to inspire hope for young people facing harassment. Professor James Whiting organized production of a Plymouth State video featuring faculty and staff members in an effort to reach out to young people who face fear and uncertainty in their lives.

“I thought it was important for our campus to take part, to add our individual and collective PSU community voice, to say to queer youth in New England, throughout the country and around the world, hang in there, it does get better,” said Whiting.

The “It Gets Better Project” was created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach — if they can just get through their teen years. The “It Gets Better Project” wants to remind teenagers in the LGBT community that they are not alone — and it can and does get better.

“I hope that this video sends a powerful message to queer youth, perhaps future students, about Plymouth as a welcoming and inclusive community, and as a campus with a significant presence of queer and allied faculty and staff who care about our youth,” added Whiting.

The It Gets Better Project (TM) has turned into a worldwide movement, inspiring over 10,000 user-created videos viewed over 35 million times. To date, the project has received submissions from celebrities, organizations, activists, politicians, and media personalities including President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Lambert, Anne Hathaway, Colin Farrell, Matthew Morrison of "Glee," Joe Jonas, Joel Madden, Ke$ha, Sarah Silverman, Tim Gunn, Ellen DeGeneres, Suze Orman, the staffs of The Gap, Google, Facebook, Pixar, the Broadway community and many more.