Joel Burns, Gay Texas Councilman, Gives Emotional Testimony Against Bullying

[democracy1st]

Run time: 12:55 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax96cghOnY4   Posted on YouTube: October 13, 2010 By YouTube Member: joelburns Views on YouTube: 305   Posted on DU: October 13, 2010 By DU Member: democracy1st Views on DU: 1163

 
Openly gay Fort Worth, Texas, City Councilman Joel Burns gave an impassioned plea to youth struggling with their sexual identity during a meeting Tuesday night, urging them not to despair in the face of intense adversity.

"I want to tell any teen who might see this, give yourself a chance to see just how much better life will get," Burns said, fighting back tears. "And it will get better, you will get out of the household that doesn't accept you, you will get out of that high school and you never have to deal with those jerks again if you don't want to. You will find and you will make new friends who will understand you and life will get so, so, so much better."

Burns began his speech with a display of a number of recent teens who have taken their own lives as a result of gay bullying from their peers. The councilman admitted that he, too, had been a victim of persecution as a high school student.

He began to tell a story about the effect that a specific incident in which he was called a variety of slurs and beaten up had had on him, but decided that it would be too difficult to relay to the council.

"To those who are feeling very alone tonight, please know that I understand how you feel, that things will get easier," Burns said. "Please stick around to make those happy memories for yourself. It may not seem like it tonight, but they will."

Burns's testimony was met with applause from fellow councilmembers, who later commended him on his bravery.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/13/joel-burns-texas-councilman_n_761260.html

[fascisthunter]

1. wow...

kick and rec

[DeSwiss]

2. K&R

Thank you Councilman Burns.

[tnlefty]

3. K & R

anti-bullying laws are important, but so is the compassion and understanding sent from parent to child that doesn't create bullies in the first place.

Kudos to Mr. Burns and to the Trevor Project.:grouphug:

[kas125]

4. Wow, thank you so much for posting this. Maybe there's hope

for this world yet.

[JDPriestly]

5. K&R

[Swede]

6. K&R

[Truth2Tell]

7. K&R nt

[JTFrog]

8. .

:kick: