First GOP in 'It gets better' video

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The first elected GOP officials have contributed to a video for the ‘It Gets Better‘ project.

New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg’s office invited members of the state congressional delegation to tape a message as part of the “It Gets Better” campaign aimed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth.

Three Republican members of the delegation — Reps. Leonard Lance, Frank LoBiondo and Jon Runyan — joined seven Democrats, including the state’s two Democrat senators in this video.

The project started by activist Dan Savage last year has led to videos from political leaders throughout the world, including an early contribution by President Obama. More than 25,000 videos have now been produced.

“This video is a message to kids in New Jersey and around the country – we are on your side, and we are here to tell you that it gets better,” Lautenberg said in a news release.

Lance predicts that “respect and acceptance will grow day by day.” And Runyan says, “The things that make us different are the things that make our country strong.”

New Jersey is home to Rutgers University, where student Tyler Clementi famously killed himself last year after being secretly recorded in a sexual encounter that was posted on the Internet.

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Read more: gay rights, it gets better, lgbt, lgbt rights, republicans

Picture: YouTube screengrab

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Laura T.

1:53PM PST on Nov 30, 2011

YES!! A REPUBLICAN WITH SENSE!!!

send a green star

Glen P.

8:50PM PST on Nov 7, 2011

I wonder why they removed ratings and comments on the video.

Those videos usually get HIGH praise.

Could it be the 1st GOP congressmen to participate in one drew the ire of right-wing Republican bigots to the video?

Beth M.

4:51PM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

Wow! That IS news!

Quanta K.

3:25AM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

Thanks

Joan S.

10:13PM PDT on Nov 2, 2011

Well there's a surprise and a nice start.

Diane S.

6:25PM PDT on Nov 2, 2011

Well it's about time they said something. It's a start.

William K.

9:46PM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

Hey, it's a lot easier to do this lip service than to actually support progressive, pro-LGBT legislation. Now they can say, "See, I'm not anti-gay! I did one of those adds!" when being confronted on their LGBT rights record (or lack thereof).

I suppose that they really ought to be commended for doing this, though. It's just so hard to give anyone in the GOP any credit given their longstanding (and ever increasingly escalating) scapegoating of the LGBT community as the wedge-politics bogey men and women of choice.

Cathy N.

9:09PM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

~Informative article!~This can be a step forward!!~

Danuta W.

2:12AM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

Thanks for the information.

Julija S.

8:03PM PDT on Oct 31, 2011