Spirit Day 2011 - Stand Up To Bullying

Today I wear my purple with pride. It's the second annual Spirit Day and I am showing my support for LGBT youth and speaking out against bullying.

I know first hand how difficult it can be to be bullied.  There were numerous days where I was afraid to go to school because I didn't know if that day was going to be the day that someone would decide to hit me because I was "different."  It was extremely hard at times to stay focused and enjoy my time in high school.  I was called gay before I even knew what the word really meant.  While I didn't know what it meant, I knew the word carried a negative connotation among my peers.  But I could never wrap my mind around why it was such a bad thing.  To me it didn't matter if you were a guy who like other guys, all that mattered is that you had a strong enough connection with someone else to make you happy.  After all don't we all just want to be happy and loved?

Thankfully, I had a wonderful groups of friends and discovered a love for music by joining the band.  Because of this support, I was able to thrive being "different," by being allowed to be me by my friends and family.  Unfortunately, some LGBT youth are not able to share this similar support. That is why I wear purple today.  In supportive of them, to let people know that bullying is not okay and is not a rite of passage.  That it is okay to dare to be who you are.  It takes a lot of courage to embrace you in the face of others who want you to conform.  I applaud all those LGBT youth who embrace themselves and are out proudly being who they are.  I also applaud those LGBT youth who are not yet comfortable coming out, still discovering who they are, and making strides to come out.  Together we will create environments that are supportive of you to make your journey easier.

Being different is not as bad as everyone in grade school and high school make it out to be.  With out people striving to be different, we would not have the internet, Iphone, twitter, facebook, or many of the advances that we cannot live without today.  Today, I stand with millions of Americans and people across the world by wearing my purple and being vocal about how bullying affects all youth, especially LGBT youth.  So , I challenge you regardless of whether or not you are wearing purple to be vocal and take a stand against bullying.  Whether you are LGBT or straight we can all do our part to speak out against bullying.

Phillies "It Gets Better" Video Released!!

True to their word, the Philadelphia Phillies released their "It Gets Better" video prior to their game this past Friday evening, which happened to be Gay Community Night at Citizens Bank Park (watch the video after the jump).

I can say it gives me great joy to see the Phillies do this video and have it debut on the Phanavision prior to the game.  As a life long Phillies Phan, I am proud that the Phillies are showing a commitment to their LGBT fans.  This success of the petition I started shows that everyday people like myself can do tremendous things that can have a positive impact.

Thank you Phillies for joining the It Gets Better Campaign and supporting the LGBT community!

Additionally, I am proud to report that the video as well as the story about the petition has been covered by Philadelphia Weekly and Philly.com.  Links are below to the stories.

http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/2011/08/29/phillies-release-%E2%80%98it-gets-better%E2%80%99-video/

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillygossip/Phillies-record-anti-bullying-It-Gets-Better-message.html

"It Gets Better" Phillies Style

Late last Thursday evening, the Philadelphia Phillies became the seventh professional baseball team to announce they will produce an “It Gets Better” video.  The Phillies will join the Giants, Cubs, and Redsox (who have already made videos) and the Twins, Mariners, and Nationals (who have announced they will be making videos).

Bullying is an issue that is near and dear to my heart.  As someone who was bullied in grade school and for a good part of high school, I understand the magnitude that words can have.  If it were not for the supportive friends and family, I would not have been able to feel comfortable being who I am.  That is why I started a change.org petition to get the Phillies to join the other ball clubs.  As a lifelong Phillies fan and partial season ticket holder, there is no other organization I would have loved to see speak out against LGBT bullying than the Phillies.

Considering that LGBT youth who face bullying is increasingly likely to drop out of school, become homeless, use drugs, and even attempt suicide, I applaud efforts like “It Gets Better” that strive to make places like schools more inclusive.  The unspoken greatness of this campaign is that it allows LGBT youth who are not out or may not feel comfortable coming out know that things do get better and they should not stop being who they are.  And for those who are out and are feeling like there is nowhere to go, “It Gets Better” provides a beacon of hope.

Homophobia is very present in the sports world and when organizations take a stand against homophobia that speaks volumes.  Seeing the professional athlete you admire telling you that things get better and not to hide what makes you unique is powerful.  Through teams like the Phillies, LGBT youth are able to see that even in places where homophobia may be present, an inclusive and welcoming environment can be forged.  Having straight allies do make a difference in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment and I am glad the Phillies have once again shown why they are an elite organization who truly cares about the community.

I hope that the momentum does not stop here and that other professional sports teams decide to take a stand against anti-gay bullying and homophobia.   But today, I am even more honored to wear my Phillies red because I know that this organization values and respects its LGBT fans, like myself.