Homophobia Against Adolescents Mobilizes Americans

Published in Estadão
(Brazil) on 22 October 2010
by Marcos Guterman (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Anna Ruby Waxham Blackwell. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
A series of cases of homophobia against adolescents in the United States — one of which resulted in the suicide of a student at Rutgers University — has launched a campaign in the United States aiming to prevent more tragedies like this. It is called “It Gets Better,” and the movement brings together videos on YouTube recorded by religious figures, artists and regular people who invite gay youth to overcome bullying and move forward. The movement gained force when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave her testimony.

In her video, Hillary says she is grateful for the help she receives from her homosexual advisors and celebrates the spirit of liberty in the United States: “It wasn’t long ago that these men and women were not able to serve openly, but now they can because it has got better, and it will get better for you.”

Update: President Barack Obama has also joined the campaign. The video in which he asks for homosexual youths harassed in schools to have patience and strength can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geyAFbSDPVk&feature=player_embedded


Uma série de casos de homofobia contra adolescentes nos EUA – um dos quais resultou no suicídio de um estudante da Universidade Rutgers – deflagrou uma campanha no país para tentar impedir que tragédias assim se repitam. Chamado de “It Gets Better” (“vai melhorar”, em tradução livre), o movimento reúne vídeos no YouTube gravados por religiosos, artistas e pessoas comuns que convidam os jovens gays a superar os traumas e seguir adiante. A ideia ganhou força, e agora quem deu seu depoimento foi a secretária de Estado Hillary Clinton.
Em seu vídeo, Hillary se diz “grata” pela ajuda que recebe de seus assessores homossexuais e celebra o espírito de liberdade nos EUA: “Não faz muito tempo, essas pessoas não poderiam trabalhar se assumissem sua homossexualidade, mas hoje elas podem, porque a situação melhorou. E vai melhorar para você”.
Atualização: o presidente Barack Obama também aderiu à campanha. O vídeo em que ele pede calma aos jovens homossexuais assediados nas escolas pode ser visto aqui.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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