Changes

The theme's basis is the claim that if homosexual youths can "just get through their teen years", they'll be able to enjoy the protection of adult power and camaraderie which will overcome the "daily tormenting and bullying" they face now.<ref>http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/showing-gay-teens-a-happy-future/ Showing Gay Teenagers a Happy Future</ref> A premise of this is that the main problem the gay community faces is lack of acceptance and toleration from "straight" people.  

The theme's basis is the claim that if homosexual youths can "just get through their teen years", they'll be able to enjoy the protection of adult power and camaraderie which will overcome the "daily tormenting and bullying" they face now.<ref>http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/showing-gay-teens-a-happy-future/ Showing Gay Teenagers a Happy Future</ref> A premise of this is that the main problem the gay community faces is lack of acceptance and toleration from "straight" people.  

The campaign began in September 2010, when Savage noted a number of suicides by gay teenagers who had been bullied for their [[sexual orientation]]. He told gay teens to hold on to their [[homosexuality]], promising them that adult homosexual life will provide them "levels of happiness, potential, and positivity".

The campaign began in September 2010, when Savage noted a number of suicides by teenagers with homosexual thoughts who had been bullied for their [[sexual orientation]]. He told teens to hold on to their [[homosexuality]], promising them that adult homosexual life will provide them "levels of happiness, potential, and positivity".

In response to the suicide of a gay teenager named Billy Lucas, Savage expressed, "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''."(Author's emphasis)<ref>http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=4940874 Give 'Em Hope</ref> Savage, in conjunction with several organizations founded the project as a [[501(c)(3)]] organization and set up a [[YouTube]] [http://www.youtube.com/itgetsbetterproject channel] to which videos could be uploaded.

In response to the suicide of a teenager named Billy Lucas, Savage expressed, "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''."(Author's emphasis)<ref>http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=4940874 Give 'Em Hope</ref> Savage, in conjunction with several organizations founded the project as a [[501(c)(3)]] organization and set up a [[YouTube]] [http://www.youtube.com/itgetsbetterproject channel] to which videos could be uploaded.

While the channel started off with just a video from Savage and another person, within two weeks more than 200 videos were submitted to the project and soon after the project reached YouTube's video limit of 640 submissions. Due to the increasing submissions an website was launched to host more videos. The site continues to accept submissions.<ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/07/MNVJ1FP6E1.DTL  

While the channel started off with just a video from Savage and another person, within two weeks more than 200 videos were submitted to the project and soon after the project reached YouTube's video limit of 640 submissions. Due to the increasing submissions an website was launched to host more videos. The site continues to accept submissions.<ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/07/MNVJ1FP6E1.DTL  

The project has seen its fair share of criticism from both sides of the spectrum.  

The project has seen its fair share of criticism from both sides of the spectrum.  

In January 2012, [[Vox Day]] reported that two gay teens who had made videos It Gets Better Project died by suicide.(see also: [[Mental Health and Homosexuality]]).<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com">http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/01/it-really-doesnt-get-better.html</ref> Vox Day also indicated that it doesn't get better and that homosexuality is a deviate lifestyle that homosexual propagandist promote (see: [[Homosexuality and choice]]).<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com"/>

In January 2012, [[Vox Day]] reported that two gay teenagers who had made videos It Gets Better Project died by suicide.(see also: [[Mental Health and Homosexuality]]).<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com">http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/01/it-really-doesnt-get-better.html</ref> Vox Day also indicated that it doesn't get better and that homosexuality is a deviate lifestyle that homosexual propagandists promote (see: [[Homosexuality and choice]]).<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com"/>

Those on the [[right]] have argued that while it is noble to help troubled young people, Dan Savage's video message is wrong and that gay teens need help. Mentally and physically, it gets better by leaving homosexuality. At the least, they say, [[abstinence]] will prolong their lives, not shorten it.

Those on the [[right]] have argued that while it is noble to help troubled young people, Dan Savage's video message is wrong and that gay teens need help. Mentally and physically, it gets better by leaving homosexuality. At the least, they say, [[abstinence]] will prolong their lives, not shorten it.

Inspired by Obama, the White House Staff created a video in support of ''It Gets Better'' project. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL2Ed_iKiG4 White House Staff, YouTube]

Inspired by Obama, the White House Staff created a video in support of ''It Gets Better'' project. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL2Ed_iKiG4 White House Staff, YouTube]

In October 2011 a number of Members of Parliament from the [[Conservative Party]] made a video in support of the project.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/10/22/conservatives-it-gets-better-video-criticism_n_1026409.html Conservatives' 'It Gets Better' Video Draws Criticism</ref>

In October 2011 a number of Members of Parliament from the [[Conservative Party of Canada]] made a video in support of the project.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/10/22/conservatives-it-gets-better-video-criticism_n_1026409.html Conservatives' 'It Gets Better' Video Draws Criticism</ref>

As noted above, in January 2012, [[Vox Day]] reported that two gay teens who had made videos It Gets Better Project died by suicide.(see also: [[Mental Health and Homosexuality]]).<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com"/> Vox Day also indicated that it doesn't get better and that homosexuality is a deviate lifestyle that homosexual propagandist promote (see: [[Homosexuality and choice]] and [[Ex-homosexuals]]).<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com"/>

As noted above, in January 2012, [[Vox Day]] reported that two gay teens who had made videos It Gets Better Project died by suicide.(see also: [[Mental Health and Homosexuality]]).<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com"/> Vox Day also indicated that it doesn't get better and that homosexuality is a deviate lifestyle that homosexual propagandist promote (see: [[Homosexuality and choice]] and [[Ex-homosexuals]]).<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com"/>