Why "It Gets Better" Just Doesn't Work

Ok, first off, GO GEORGE TAKEI! I'm glad he finally called someone out on it and he did it is such a way as to call real attention to the issue. If you haven't seen the video yet, here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UACK93xF-FE

That being said, I have a problem with something that he and a lot of other people have been saying. "It gets better."

Now, I'm not going to sit here and bash gays, or argue whether or not it really does get better, I'm here to call attention to the real issue. The REAL one.

This all started when the gay teens killed themselves. Yes, it was tragic. It should never have happened. But then this message sprang up. "Don't kill yourself. It gets better." And this was supposed to solve all their problems.

Ok, in all fairness, I'm sure no one was really under this delusion. The intention was to provide support for homosexuals and to stop or prevent bullying. Both good causes. But what about the suicide part?

If you go on YouTube and look at a lot of the messages, very rarely do they say "Get help." They should. If a person at the point that they are considering taking their own life, they don't need a hollow message and a fake support net made up of random strangers and celebrities that will never talk to them. They need a therapist or some other form of treatment.

This may sound bitter, hateful, or down right mean to some people, but if you ask any doctor, therapist, or medical professional, they will tell you the same thing. If you are considering suicide, look for help.

And that is my problem with this campaign. It's detracting from a major issue. People mean well, but really, have some sense about you. Maybe it gets better. Maybe once you get out of the hell hole we call high school it does get better. Maybe it gets worse. I'm not sure. I do know that there are support groups (for lack of a better term) on my college campus and on several others. I also know that in many towns or businesses if they suspect that you are homosexual, you will not get a job or will be ostracized.

It's a good campaign, intention wise. It really is. Just get help if you're going down that dark road. Somewhere on it you may find something that makes it better, but it won't get better without help.