It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living - Tapa dura

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Growing up isn't easy. Many young people face daily tormenting and bullying, making them feel like they have nowhere to turn. This is especially true for LGBT kids and teens who often hide their sexuality for fear of bullying. Without other openly gay adults and mentors in their lives, they can't imagine what their future may hold. In many instances, gay and lesbian adolescents are taunted - even tortured - simply for being themselves.

After a number of tragic suicides by LGBT students who were bullied in school, syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage uploaded a video to YouTube with his partner Terry Miller to inspire hope for LGBT youth facing harassment. Speaking openly about the bullying they suffered as teenagers, and how they both went on to lead rewarding adult lives, their video launched the It Gets Better Project YouTube channel and initiated a worldwide phenomenon. With over 6,000 videos posted and over 20 million views in the first three months alone, the world has embraced the opportunity to provide personal, honest and heartfelt support for LGBT youth everywhere.

It Gets Better is a collection of expanded essays and new material from celebrities, everyday people and teens who have posted videos of encouragement, as well as new contributors who have yet to post videos to the site. While many of these teens couldn't see a positive future for themselves, we can. We can show LGBT youth the levels of happiness, potential and positivity their lives will reach if they can just get through their teen years. By sharing these stories, It Gets Better reminds teenagers in the LGBT community that they are not alone - and it WILL get better.

Dan Savage is the author of the internationally syndicated column, "Savage Love" and the editor of The Stranger, Seattle's weekly newspaper. His writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, the op-ed pages of The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Salon.com, Nest, Rolling Stone, The Onion, and many others. He lives in Seattle, Washington with his husband Terry Miller.

Terry Miller is a DJ, event promoter, musician, and music critic/blogger. Terry is Dan Savage's partner of sixteen years.