If you've ever found yourself overwhelmed with emotion from an iPhone or iPad commercial, expect that experience triple-fold when you watch Apple's contribution to the It Gets Better Project.
Reaching out to potentially suicidal kids, LGBT Apple employees share their coming-out and coming-of-age stories in this six-minute piece that's as finely produced as any of the company's lovely ads, music included. Here, you won't be moved by shiny products but by heartfelt inspiring stories from Apple employees who share the pain they survived as kids, and the joy of finding their place in the world as adults.
Dan Savage, editorial director of the Seattle weekly The Stranger and author of the syndicated column "Savage Love," launched the It Gets Better Project on YouTube in September following the suicide of Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old who reportedly suffered homophobic harassment at Indiana's Greensburg High School. Nine out of 10 gay teenagers experience bullying and harassment, Savage said on his Sept. 21 podcast announcing the project. And gay teenagers are four times more likely to commit suicide.
Apple's contribution joins the nearly 10,000 videos since the It Gets Better Project began. Google's version, posted last October, bears all the hallmarks of that company's video style, and is also well worth the watch.
Related:
- Anti-gay Facebook page hacked by its own administrator
- Students asked to out public schools that block pro-gay sites
- Apple dumps 'gay cure' from App Store
- Obama adds to award-winning 'It Gets Better' project
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