LEAD WITH LOVE follows four families’ experiences in learning that they have a gay or lesbian child. Created for parents who are working through this news themselves, this poignant and informative film shares real stories from parents and children, factual information from psychologists, educators, and clergy, and concrete guidance to help parents keep their children healthy and safe during this sometimes challenging time.

From LGBTQ Nation:

The PSA, which is intended to encourage condom usage among gay and bisexual men, claims that those with HIV face a higher risk of bone loss, dementia, and anal cancer. While older adults living with HIV may be at greater risk of these conditions, GLAAD and GMHC assert the PSA creates a grim picture of what it is like to live with HIV that could further stigmatize HIV/AIDS, as well as gay and bisexual men.

“While it’s extremely important that we continue to educate New Yorkers about HIV/AIDS prevention, the sensationalized nature of the commercial, including its tabloid-like fear tactics, misses the mark in fairly and accurately representing what it’s like to live with HIV/AIDS,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios.

Read the full commentary on LGBTQNATION.com.

Writing for the New Yorker, Michael Specter defends the PSA saying: “Nasty messages are unpleasant and they don’t always work. But they do work sometimes, and there is research to suggest in cases like this, where it has become easy to shrug off the truth, harsh reminders are particularly effective.”

Read Specter’s editorial on the New Yorker’s Website.

President Obama comes out for gay youth.

I know a lot of LGBT folks are unhappy with the unfulfilled promise to overturn DADT (among other things) but lets stop for a moment and think about the significance of the President of the United States, the leader of the free world,  making a big public statement directed at queer youth.

And it happens to be a heartfelt, well-written speech.

In response to recent teen suicides, hundreds of people have stepped up to tell young LGBT youth that it gets better. One of the latest to post a video is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who reflects on the progress the country has made and will continue to make. The video was posted on YouTube, on the It Gets Better Project channel. The project was created by author, sex columnist and activist Dan Savage.  

You can read more about the It Gets Better Project in Dan’s column on the The Stranger.

From the New York Times:

“A new online video channel is reaching out to teenagers who are bullied at school for being gay. The message: life really does get better after high school.

The YouTube channel, called the “It Gets Better Project,” was created by the Seattle advice columnist and activist Dan Savage. Mr. Savage says he was moved by the suicide of Billy Lucas, a Greensburg, Ind., high school student who was the target of slurs and bullying. The channel promises to be a collection of videos from adults in the gay community who share their own stories of surviving school bullying and moving on to build successful careers and happy home lives.”

Read the full article on the New York Times Website.