It Gets Better Project

It Gets Better is an Internet-based 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in the United States by gay activist, author, media pundit, and journalist Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller on September 21, 2010, in response to the suicides of teenagers who were bullied because they were gay or because their peers suspected that they were gay. Its goal is to prevent suicide among LGBT youth by having gay adults convey the message that these teens' lives will improve. The project has grown rapidly: over 200 videos were uploaded in the first week, and the project's YouTube channel reached the 650 video limit in the next week. The project is now organized on its own website, the It Gets Better Project, and includes more than 50,000 entries from people of all sexual orientations, including many celebrities; the videos have received over 50 million views. A book of essays from the project was released in March 2011. The project was given the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Governor's Award at the 64th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for "strategically, creatively and powerfully utilizing the media to educate and inspire," according to the academy's chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum. Project history: The project was founded by Savage in response to the suicide of Billy Lucas and other teenagers who were bullied because they were gay or perceived to be, such as with Raymond Chase, Tyler Clementi, Ryan Halligan, Asher Brown, and Seth Walsh. Savage wrote, "I wish I could have talked to this kid for five minutes. I wish I could have told Billy that it gets better. I wish I could have told him that, however bad things were, however isolated and alone he was, it gets better." A one-hour special aired on February 21, 2012, hosted by Savage. A second special is slated to air on October 9 on MTV and Logo. U.S. President Barack Obama lent his voice to the movement against bullying and contributed a video on October 21, 2010, saying "We've got to dispel this myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage; that it's just some inevitable part of growing up. It's not. We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe for all of our kids. And for every young person out there you need to know that if you're in trouble, there are caring adults who can help." In March 2011, Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted an anti-bullying conference. In September 2011, 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer in Buffalo, New York committed suicide after complaining about being bullied for being gay. In May 2011, he had created an "It gets better" YouTube video for other gay kids not to get discouraged about bullying. In October 2011, 15-year-old Jamie Hubley committed suicide after being subjected to anti-gay bullying. The project operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributors: People and groups named on this list as notable It Gets Better video contributors are linked to associated articles and include footnotes with an external link to their video and any other relevant citations. Individuals: Jonathan Adler Max Adler J. Alexander Marsha Ambrosius Darla K. Anderson Buck Angel Andy Bell of Erasure Laura Benanti Cazwell Chester Bennington Julie Benz John Berry Joe Biden Justin Bieber Chaz Bono Kate Bornstein Jeffery Self and Guy Branum Drew Brees Sherrod Brown Blondell Reynolds Brown Michael Buckley Joel Burns David Cameron Annie Clark Margaret Cho Hillary Clinton Andy Cohen Ben Cohen Stephen Colbert Chris Colfer Dane Cook Chris Crocker Shane Bitney Crone Adrianne Curry Shane Dawson Ellen DeGeneres Jason Derulo Simon Doonan Rebecca Drysdale Hal Duncan Lisa Edelstein Omar Epps Gloria Estefan Eve Jeffers Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet Martin Foley Al Franken Lady Gaga Chris Giunchigliani Ari Gold Wynter Gordon Kathy Griffin Vinny Guadagnino Tim Gunn Amy Gutmann Kevin Hague Todrick Hall Tom Hanks Mark Hanson Jodie Harsh Anne Hathaway Don Harmon Neil Patrick Harris Darren Hayes Jennifer Love Hewitt Perez Hilton Keri Hilson Dave Holmes Janet Jackson Peter Jacobson Ruben Kihuen Larry King Valerie Jarrett Micah Jesse Jewel Kilcher Kermit the Frog Kesha Michael Kors Ryan Kwanten and Chris Bauer La La and Ciara Adam Lambert Jack Layton Claudia Lee Rex Lee Nicole LeFavour Adam Levine Lizzy the Lezzy Judith Light Joel Madden Bill Maher Joe Manganiello Jay Manuel Sergio Gabriel Martinez James Duke Mason Kyle Dean Massey Jenny McCarthy Dalton McGuinty A. J. McLean Rick Mercer Jeff Merkley Cesar Millan Stephanie Miller Nicki Minaj Jim Moran John Nolan Danny Noriega Barack Obama and Michelle Obama Rory O'Malley Suze Orman Anna Paquin Nancy Pelosi John Pérez Katy Perry Randy Phillips P!nk John Quale Zachary Quinto Patricia Racette and her wife Beth Clayton Rise Against LeAnn Rimes Gene Robinson Dennis Van Roekel Sia Dan Savage Debbie Wasserman Schultz Ken Seeley for Palm Springs High School Fiona Shaw Jake Shears Peter Shumlin Alexander Skarsgard Ian Somerhalder Jesse Spencer Jeffree Star George Takei Gareth Thomas Rob Thomas Derek Warburton Michael Urie Tom Vilsack Elizabeth Warren Brent Weber Chris Whiteside Olivia Wilde Wendy Williams BD Wong