Dear Friends,

In an effort to move into the 21st Century, and to respond to all the folks who ask me to take my message to a larger audience, we are beginning to do video clips on issues of concern as they emerge. While I believe in thoughtful reflection and a careful articulation of difficult issues, there is no question that the use of new technology and video offers the option of a more rapid response, or a consciousness raising opportunity for a wider audience.

My first video piece is on behalf of a campaign targeting gay youth who find themselves ostracized because of their sexual orientation or gender expression. As you are all likely aware, there has been a high visibility of gay teenagers committing suicide due to bullying. The most recent case was right in our own backyard, when a young man named Tyler Clementi jumped off of the George Washington Bridge after being outed in a very cruel way by his fellow classmates.

Dan Savage, an openly gay journalist began a movement in an attempt to reach the millions of other gay teenagers in high school who may be having a hard time. He wrote that his immediate thought after hearing these heartbreaking stories of suicide was, "I wish I could have talked to them, to be able to tell them that it gets better." And with that, the "It Gets Better" project was born.

Dan made a video sharing his thoughts and uploaded it as a way to be able to reach out to any teen, or young adult who was struggling with their sexuality or identity and didn't have anyone to talk to. He made a call for other gay adults to lend their support to these kids, with their own video, and the response has been an outpouring of wonderful messages from openly gay adults from all walks of life. I am proud to add my voice to theirs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKLZFgOE7yg