Long Beach Releases An 'It Gets Better' Video, Aims To Encourage LGBT Kids And Remind Them They're Not Alone

By Marisa Gerber Wed., Nov. 16 2011 at 11:13 AM

Categories: Long Beach

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Dan Savage
Dan Savage is getting a lot of OC lovin' lately.

Last week, the nationally-syndicated sex columnist got glitter-bombed at an event at UCI, and this week Long Beach joined his "It Gets Better" Project.

Started in 2010, after several gay teens and victims of bullying committed suicide, the project aims to show LGBT kids that they're not alone and that, well, things will get better.

They've disseminated their message mostly through videos posted online and that's exactly what Long Beach did. The five-minute video features councilman Robert Garcia, who is openly gay, and Mayor Bob Foster.

Garcia shares a bit of his personal story and Foster tells a story about the time a good friend and business partner of his told him he was gay. "It made absolutely no difference," Foster says. " I was actually a little hurt that he actually thought it would matter. It made no difference at all and we've been good friends ever since."

Some other Long Beach residents, like a military veteran and a reverend, share anecdotes and tid bits of advice, too.

The video will also run on the LBTV channel for the rest of the year, according to Garcia's website.

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