It Gets Better

More than a year after  the nationwide “It Gets Better” campaign was launched in response to a series of homophobic incidents across college campuses and high schools, Harvard’s community has produced its own contribution to the ongoing fight against discrimination and ostracism among young people. The recent “It Gets Better” video created by an anonymous junior resident of Quincy House offers what remains an essential and much-needed message for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer communities. More important, however, is the manner in which this message is relayed, for while the video certainly excels in encouraging students to overcome difficult experiences, it also emphasizes a sense of pride and positivity that will undoubtedly incite gay students in less fortunate circumstances to look toward a brighter and happier future.

Plus, let’s be honest, it is refreshing to see so many happy Harvard students at one time. This sight is certainly not encountered as frequently as it should be on our campus, and “It Gets Better” serves as an excellent reminder that smiling Harvard students do in fact exist. At the same time, this work proved successful in ways other than its ability to convey a positive outlook for members of the LGBTQ community. By presenting multiple perspectives from individuals of all backgrounds, “It Gets Better” will likely appeal to a broader range of students, both inside and outside of Harvard’s own queer community. As gay students become increasingly confident about displaying their sexual identity and optimistic about their futures in doing so, their friends, allies, and peers can simultaneously learn about the challenges gay students face. The more dialogue that takes place, the more the entire community can help LGBTQ students overcome these challenges.

Regardless of the fact that Harvard’s receptivity toward the gay community is—considered on a relative and as well as on an absolute basis—highly positive, it remains imperative that students continue to provide messages of support on our campus along the lines of “It Gets Better.” Tellingly, the video’s creator decided to remain anonymous in this work, highlighting the fact that not all students at Harvard feel comfortable revealing their sexuality to the public nor that all Harvard students are by any means sure about their own identities. For this reason, it is important that all members of our community consistently make an effort to address the difficulties faced by gay students, even if these issues are not as prominent on a relatively liberal campus like our own.

Overall, all those involved in the production of “It Gets Better” deserve commendation for presenting an uplifting message for students of all backgrounds and sexual orientations. It is our hope that similar endeavors in the future will adopt the same comprehensive and positive approach to issues related to sexuality.