Perez Hilton, Lady Gaga push for end to ignorant, unwarranted hatred of gays in America
By Colin Campbell
Second-year print journalism student
Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010
As a result of a recent spike in the number of young gay suicides in the news, openly gay celebrity blogger Perez Hilton started a movement on Twitter petitioning celebrities to make videos to encourage young homosexuals to ignore homophobic hatred and criticisms and seek help if they're having suicidal thoughts.
On Sept. 28, Hilton tweeted "My heart aches so deeply over this recent rash of suicides by gay teenagers. #SuicideIsNotTheAnswer" and then, starting with Britney Spears, Hilton proceeded to tweet at over 270 different celebrities over the following two days.
Hilton petitioned everyone possible - Larry King to Serena Williams to the whole Kardashian family to Conan O'Brien, to name a few - asking them to make videos and upload them to YouTube under the title name "It Gets Better" and link to the Twitter hashtag #ItGetsBetter.
Many, including but not limited to Ciara, Jason Derulo, A.J. McLean, Joel Madden, Jewel and the cast members of Wicked and Eve, responded with passionate videos telling young gays that the ridicule goes away as people grow up and that their lives are in their hands. Hilton encouraged anyone who experiences suicidal thoughts to tell someone or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
In conjunction with Lady Gaga's high-profile fight for a legislative end to the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, this celebrity push for acceptance of homosexuality in our country is rightfully receiving lots of media attention.
Our country is a melting pot - a hodgepodge of different cultures and lifestyles. To persecute any minority for its beliefs or ways of life is against the very values on which this country was built. We hold freedoms of religion, speech and expression as absolute and irrevocable. So why should sexual orientation be any different?
It's nice to see - in a world where sports and entertainment icons mess up every day, live to extremes and face drug and violence arrests almost weekly - that the celebrities of America are taking this opportunity to step up and make a difference.
[dailygamecock]
By Colin Campbell
Second-year print journalism student
Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Updated: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 00:10
On Sept. 28, Hilton tweeted "My heart aches so deeply over this recent rash of suicides by gay teenagers. #SuicideIsNotTheAnswer" and then, starting with Britney Spears, Hilton proceeded to tweet at over 270 different celebrities over the following two days.
Hilton petitioned everyone possible - Larry King to Serena Williams to the whole Kardashian family to Conan O'Brien, to name a few - asking them to make videos and upload them to YouTube under the title name "It Gets Better" and link to the Twitter hashtag #ItGetsBetter.
Many, including but not limited to Ciara, Jason Derulo, A.J. McLean, Joel Madden, Jewel and the cast members of Wicked and Eve, responded with passionate videos telling young gays that the ridicule goes away as people grow up and that their lives are in their hands. Hilton encouraged anyone who experiences suicidal thoughts to tell someone or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
In conjunction with Lady Gaga's high-profile fight for a legislative end to the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, this celebrity push for acceptance of homosexuality in our country is rightfully receiving lots of media attention.
Our country is a melting pot - a hodgepodge of different cultures and lifestyles. To persecute any minority for its beliefs or ways of life is against the very values on which this country was built. We hold freedoms of religion, speech and expression as absolute and irrevocable. So why should sexual orientation be any different?
It's nice to see - in a world where sports and entertainment icons mess up every day, live to extremes and face drug and violence arrests almost weekly - that the celebrities of America are taking this opportunity to step up and make a difference.
[dailygamecock]
