It Gets Better For Who?

I thought for a long time that people were aware of the politics behind the It Gets Better Project that has been voiced by many concerned individuals. The LGBTQ community has expressed both support and criticism of Dan Savage's campaign. 

During a discussion with some classmates, they asked a series of questions regarding my blog. Some "acquaintances" (barely) who are apparently aspiring comedians, questioned my sexuality because of the amount of LGBTQ issues I address on my blog. Nope, I'm straight. 

However, I am aware of the issues and the invisibility of these issues. So I speak about it. 

If you know me, you know I'm all for equality. However, you also know that I am aware of the disproportionate and unfair distribution of equality, freedom and opportunities. Equality applies to only SOME individuals. 

The politics behind the It Gets Better Project is that the main message is misleading to young adolescents who live an alternative lifestyle. On the other side of society's norms, the LGBTQ community faces ridicule, stigma, harassment, and other severe forms of physical and mental harm. The project spreads the message to basically, "SUCK IT UP" throughout high school amidst the bullying. After the news of several LGBTQ teens that committed suicide, Dan Savage began the campaign, backed by several celebrities. 

Although high school can be a cruel environment (and I'm not denying this), Savage's project tells teens that it gets better after high school. But better for who?

Savage is speaking from a white male with a middle-class background. Being, white, being male and being from a white middle class background comes with certain privileges and powers that cannot be forfeited. The project denies intersectionality of gender, ethnicity, religious and cultural backgrounds of LGBTQ teens who are not white, male, or from middle class. 

This campaign does not highlight the issues that these teens will face in adult life. This includes issues at the workplace: denial of promotion, denial of a specific job position, denial of opportunities due to sexual orientation. This also includes issues with child adoption/parenting, "coming out" to other family members (extended for example), issues with marriage and the invisibility of domestic violence in same-sex relationships. The extensive amounts of discrimination, harassment and inequality does not end at your high school graduation.

It doesn't get better. Not for all. 

This project misleads the teens by saying that high school and bullying is just the climax of being LGBTQ, and that once you graduate from high school, all other problems are a piece of cake to deal with.

Although the It Gets Better Project is a move toward support for LGBTQ individuals, it needs to modify the message and clarify what is to be expected in adult life. To tell those in need of support that it gets better creates falsifying hope, even for teens who are white male from a middle class background. A message like this, especially from a person who comes to privilege and certain powers is misleading to teens who require a different message and different support. 

It gets better? For who?