‘It Gets Better’ … not for everybody

[Shana A]

'It Gets Better' ... not for everybody

Telling vulnerable queer and trans teens that it gets better when it doesn't – especially if you don't benefit from white, class and able-bodied privilege – is incredibly cruel and heartless, writes Joelle Ruby Ryan.

14 November 2010

http://www.thescavenger.net/glb/it-gets-better-not-for-everybody-339914.html

As everyone knows, there has been a disturbing rash of suicides by members of the queer community of late.

These deaths have been due to bullying and harassment, and are yet another reminder of the incredibly homophobic, transphobic and patriarchal world in which we live.

A campaign was started by Dan Savage, called "It Gets Better" in which he exhorts LGBT youth to wait around until their lives improve, cuz, well, you know, if you wait around long enough they just get better, and stuff, apparently.

Dan Savage is well known for his biphobia, his transphobia, his fatphobia and his sexism/misogyny. While he likes to think of himself as a politically-incorrect and edgy hipster commentator, he's really just a straight-up media fiend.

[Vanessa_yhvh]

In defense of what Dan's trying to do here, I've been following his podcast for some time as he fields calls from troubled teens. His advice has never been to do nothing & wait until it gets better, but to bide time until they can get out and make better lives for themselves.

He's also one of the least transphobic people I can think of, and routinely expresses a strong, nuanced understanding of trans identity, medical, and sexual issues.

No, it doesn't always get better. But telling kids to put the gun down and hang on for brighter days is a good thing.