Former Fort Worth city councilman Joel Burns tells gay teens
In a courageous, intensely emotional talk at the city council in Fort Worth, Texas, councilman Joel Burns reaches out to the targets of teen bullying -- kids who are gay, perceived as gay, or just different -- with a vital message about their lives, and the harassment they face. Support Fearless Journalism. Trump's Defense Department wants HuffPost's reporters to sign a restrictive and clearly unconstitutional document. Joel Burns tells gay teens "it gets better"
- Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns reaches out to GLBT teens with a personal story and a message of hope. The new series features celebrities and everyday people who recorded It Gets Better videos early on, rewatching and reacting to their video. Host Emile Ennis Jr. 
Texas Councilman Revisits His Moving, Viral ‘It Gets Better
On Tuesday night, Joel Burns, an openly gay member of the Fort Worth City Council, spoke directly to teenagers at high schools in his district -- and, thanks to YouTube, around the world. "I know. Last Tuesday, Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns turned what would have been an ordinary local community board meeting into 13 minutes of unflinching advocacy. Burns spoke of his own struggles as a gay teen and pleaded for compassion among parents and children.
Joel Burns Interview on His Viral Hit ‘It Gets Better’ Speech
As his message of hope to gay teens goes viral, Texas councilman Joel Burns tells Claire Howorth about his own brush with suicide, his city's homophobia—and what he left out of his speech. That's the message that hundreds of people - from celebrities to ordinary gay and lesbian Americans and their straight supporters - are sending on YouTube to struggling gay and lesbian youth. Moved by a recent spate of suicides by teens who were believed to be victims of anti-gay bullying, syndicated relationship and sex advice columnist Dan Savage began the project last month , hoping it would turn into exactly what it is: A destination for gay young people to receive comfort from a variety of perspectives on their Internet home turf.
Joel Burns
Former Fort Worth city councilman Joel Burns in and today (screen captures) Taking part in the ’10 Years Better’ series from the It Gets Better Project, former Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns revisits the viral video of his city council meeting speech in October where he shared aspects of his young gay life and spoke out about LGBTQ bullying. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Joel Burns's original speech in front of the city council went viral on YouTube 10 years ago.
Joel Burns tells gay teens ' it gets better'
In one of the most widely-distributed videos not from a national celebrity, Forth Worth, Tex. City Councilman Joel Burns delivers a minute speech to a city council session - in the heart of red. . Huge Response To Gay Councilman's 'It Gets Better' Message
In a powerful and inspiring speech, Councilman Joel Burns described a time when the bullying was so bad that he considered taking his own life. . Texas City Councilman Tells Gay Teens "It Gets Better" in
This video should be seen by every young person who has ever been bullied, who has thought 'life isn't worth living if it's this terrible,' and who thinks it will never get better. Anti-bullying work has been Equality Florida's top priority since our founding 13 years ago. This video demonstrates why. Please share Joel's inspirational message far and wide. .