"12 minutes that will change your life and maybe save another life"

[operafan]

I didn't see this elsewhere. It is has already been posted the mods will take care of putting this with the others. It is probably the most moving "It Gets Better" speech that I've seen so far.

The headline from the Tucson paper says it all:

VIDEO: 12 minutes that will change your life and maybe save another life

by Arizona Progress on Oct. 13, 2010, under Arizona Progress

Openly gay Fort Worth, Texas, City Councilman Joel Burns broke down during a council meeting last night while telling his own story of being bullied and contemplating suicide at age 13, according to a report from WFAA-TV.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax96cghOnY4[/ame]

http://tucsoncitizen.com/in-the-agg...change-your-life-and-maybe-save-another-life/

Here is another article about Burns with a picture of him and his husband:http://www.dallasvoice.com/joel-burns-begs-teens-contemplating-suicide-give-chance-life-1048104.html

 

[JustWes]

That was a great video and a great message.

 

[roadtripboy]

A standing ovation for a gay man in TEXAS. I never thought I'd ever see that. Amazing.

 

[CUMMINGS]

He spoke so eloquently. Thanks for posting.

 

[MrBubulino]

Great video! Every gay teen should see this

 

[39dale]

Very powerful vid. Thanks for posting. Hope it gets wide circulation.

 

[zoltanspawn]

I'm glad I overcame my initial reluctance to watch it.

This is not a video about someone breaking down.

 

[kemistry]

i didnt expect to cry watching this video, that was very heart-felt.

 

[barnbuddy]

I saw this on a blog, and I'm glad someone else posted it

hope it gets wide circulation. i put it on my facebook pg, and retwitted the original link

 

[BRIOHAZARD]

So sad, so heartfelt.

 

[freefall]

His voice in the last half of the video and the pauses really made him seemed as though he was on the verge of crying.

And yet it's not depressing, but empowering.

 

[frankfrank]

I heard it broadcast in its entirety on a segment of the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC tonight, on Sirius (satellite radio). They started offering MSNBC a few months back.

It made me cry (in a very good way) as I listened, while driving through the Nevada desert at night.

I often find that, listening to something while driving at night, can accentuate whatever I'm listening to.

 

[roadtripboy]

ABC World News just ran a story on this amazing video in their newscast tonight.

(That would be ABC News in the US, 'cause I know there's an ABC network down under as well.)

 

[ADarkStar1234]

I saw this video from another site. I'm not easily moved to tears, but this had me shed a few. It really makes you feel that things will eventually be alright.

 

[frankfrank]

An editorial as great, meaningful and relevant as this comes along maybe once every 10 years or so...

 

[operafan]

Here is Burns talking about his experience and the video on NPR

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isa3f6lpie8[/ame]

 

[operafan]

removed....