LGBT

It Gets Better gets another boost from B.C.: Spencer Chandra Herbert, Hedy Fry, Turpel-Lafond, and more

by Craig Takeuchi on November 18th, 2011 at 12:34 PM
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      The latest group to create an It Gets Better video hail from our own province.

      In honour of National Child Day, B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, and several members of the local queer community contributed their stories and words of support in a video message for LGBT youth.

      In the video, viewers will recognize several prominent members and allies of the community, including Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, activist and Purple Letter Campaign cofounder Ryan Clayton, Mandy Randhawa of Flygirl Productions, Vancouver Centre MP Dr. Hedy Fry, and many more. (Not to mention the entire cast and crew of Mamma Mia!.)

      “Every school district in B.C. should have strong anti-homophobia and transphobia policies and action plans in place yet the vast majority do not,” Chandra Herbert stated in a news release. “I thank the Representative for Children and Youth for taking action, and supporting positive initiatives like the ‘It Gets Better’ project to ensure everyone is respected for who they are and encouraging youth to speak up against hate and for love and acceptance.”

      One main video was created, along with four other supplementary videos that provide more in-depth clips with interviewees talking about a range of subjects.

      Here is the main video, which includes all of the interviewees:

      In this clip, interviewees talk about allies:

      Here’s a video about courage. Several interviewees offer their perspectives, including Mandy Randhawa, who talks about her experiences of growing up with Indian social traditions.

      This one’s about passion:

      In this video, several interviewees talk about spirit. Outreach worker Dolan Badger, who is Cree, talks about two-spirited people as well.

      Each video ends with contact information for the Kids Help Phone.

      The It Gets Better project was launched by Savage Love columnist Dan Savage in 2010 in response to suicides by LGBT youth.

      Here's a video made in 2010 by the B.C. Teachers' Federation in support of the project.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig.

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