“It Gets Better” Can Make it Better for HIV Too

Is everyone aware of the It Gets Better Project? Started by American writer Dan Savage and his partner Terry, It Gets Better is a collection of video autobiographies to tell gay youth life will improve. Simple, but so important. Savage is calling out in response to the bullying and resulting suicides of gay youth in the past few weeks. Ellen DeGeneres has too. So have many celebrities and politicians. Why comment on it here? Because homophobia and HIV are linked.

Homophobia can lead to multiple damages. It affects self-esteem; it affects sexual choices (or feeling a lack of choice). It affects how we move about in the world. I say we, because whether you are gay, lesbian (like me), bisexual, transgender or straight, homophobia has impact. It takes safe space away and provides space for bigotry. It creates energy that can kill.

All of which matters to me because HIV is inextricably linked to gay men and homophobia. Gay men have been demonized for HIV, blamed, torn apart and disowned. And they don’t deserve it. Nor do other people who have bravely come out about their HIV in attempts to educate. But many people have used HIV as an excuse to be homophobic. To berate, bully and beat.

HIV doesn’t choose people based on who they have sex with. Don’t credit a virus with a brain. The flu is a virus too. Do people give the flu a brain, suggesting it befalls people “who deserve it”?

It Gets Better is going viral in a good way. It’s reaching millions of people. It’s showing gay youth they have reason to hope. And hope is essential. If we’re going to beat homophobia. If we’re going to beat HIV.  

 - Janet 

This was posted on Friday, October 22nd, 2010 at 9:30 am and is filed under Body Health, Education & Resources, HIV stigma, Homophobia, sexual health, Spiritual and Emotional Health, Support . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.

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