A film highlighting the issues faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) students has become an internet hit with more 3,000 hits in its first three hours. It Gets Better Glasgow is being well received across the globe and has been endorsed by the founders of this worldwide campaign.


It Gets Better is an internet based project that began in 2010.  It was set up in response to the suicides of teenagers who were bullied for being gay or because their peers suspected they were gay.  The project grew rapidly with over 200 videos uploaded in the first week.  The videos are a means of showing young LGBT people that whilst their teenage years may be difficult, their futures can be better.

The film was made by Glasgow University Students’ Representative Council (GUSRC) in partnership with Glasgow University Student Television (GUST).

GUSRC and GUST invited University students and staff to participate in a submission on behalf of the University in recent weeks, with the resulting video launched as part of GUSRC Health Week.

It Gets Better is the brainchild of Dan Savage and his partner, Terry Miller.  Dan Savage commented “Glasgow holds a special place in our hearts.  It's one of our favorite places in the world. Thank you so much Glasgow University for stepping up and helping to make things better! Much, much love and admiration to all of you!”

The project was lead by GUSRC Sexual Orientation Equality Office Drew McCusker and student Adam Smith.

Drew McCusker said “The outpouring of support from The University of Glasgow’s students and staff for this project only goes to show that our university cares about students and young people. This is only part of the wider picture of inspiring and protecting future generations but we’re proud to contribute to such an phenomenal project which fits in well with the ethos of our campus.”
 

EDITORIAL NOTES
• To watch the video, go to http://gust.tv/watch/it-gets-better-glasgow/ 

For more information contact Cara MacDowall in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3535; 07875 203387 or email Cara.MacDowall@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 16 November 2011

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