In response to the recent rash of suicides being attributed in part to homophobia, the 'It Gets Better' campaign was launched by Dan Savage. The first video posted is of him and his partner, who are cis-gender white rich gay men, offering hope that things will change for the better. Without denying the good intentions of those involved in the project to spread words of optimism to those facing similar circumstances, there are many ways in which to offer up a queer critique of the message.
Here's a link to a popular blog engaging in analysis and critique of the project.
link
http://tempcontretemps.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/why-i-dont-like-dan-savages-it-gets-better-project-as-a-response-to-bullying/
And one discussing the absence of trans folks despite suicide statistics.
http://www.questioningtransphobia.com/?p=3231
And finally an alternative approach...
www.makeitbetterproject.org
With or without help from the additional links, what can be queered about Dan and Terry's video? How is the phrase 'it gets better' in and of itself problematic (or if you don't find it so please explain)? Comparing and contrasting the 'it gets better' project with the 'make it better' project, in what ways can we queer how we engage and confront homophobia? In what ways can we queer how we address mental health and wellbeing in the queer community and beyond?
I loved the second video you posted, Ava. G and Isaiah get at what we talked about during the Kincaid diablog, and the idea of "youth agency." They didn't let the explosion of these response videos drown out the fact that the videos talked AT their audience (those youths) and didn't open up a space for the youth to also participate in the discussion. Both G and Isaiah basically shot that one-sided "solution" to the "bullying" they were experiencing, and asserted their own power to change their circumstances. They MADE it better.
I think that words get played around with a lot in queer and feminist theory, lots of deconstruction of used words, questioning the meanings and limits of words, and also creating ("binarism," thank you, @nosecage) words to suit what we're saying. So the semantics-change from passive (it gets better) to active (make it better) is a big point, in my mind. I think Kate Bornstein also recognized the fallacy in saying "It Gets Better," especially with the poster boys being Dan and Terry, two white privileged cisgender gay men. Her video encouraged the audience to DO, not WAIT. The blanket platitude of "it'll get better" doesn't apply to all, and definitely leaves a lot wanting.
I really enjoyed watching these 2 videos, because they were both based around hope. The second one was obviously more appealing, just given the fact that I could relate to the kids more, because that's how I felt in high school, and I knew that in the future that things would brighten up when I got to college, as they definitely have. :) Both of those individuals in the second clip are so much for their age; I truly believe that gay youth matures much faster than straight youth, just because they have to accept themselves for who they are and can't wait around for others to accept them, because there's always that chance that they won't be accepted...at least by everyone. The first video was a nice story to hear how 2 gay mean came from such adversity and turned their lives into happy, successful ones, with a child of their own and financially comfortable. It proves that gay people can walk the walk and talk the talk and live out their big dreams too.