Tag Archives: It Gets Better project

Hillary Clinton Writes Heartfelt Letter To Lesbian Couple Featured In Her Campaign Video

Hillary Clinton has sent a heartfelt note to the lesbian couple featured in her famously internet-friendly two minute campaign announcement video

Kassie Thornton and Christy Spitzer opened their mailbox this week to discover the letter from Clinton, which thanked them for their involvement in the video, and for their involvement with the lives and struggles of queer youth.

Spitzer was a producer on MTV’s “It Gets Better” specials, programs that enhanced the visibility and stories of young LGBT individuals.

Spitzer and Thornton told The Huffington Post.

It’s not every day that you open your mailbox to find a letter of gratitude, love, and support from the potential first female president of the U.S. We felt so honoured, touched, and downright humbled. We are blown away that she is a heartfelt supporter of the ‘It Gets Better Project,’ and is aware how important their powerful message is. The organisation does positive things for many young people all over the world!”

The couple was especially moved by Clinton’s well wishes for their upcoming nuptials.

For Ms. Clinton to thank us for being part of her video announcement and to know that we are getting married [in June] is just unbelievable,” Spitzer and Thornton said. “Simply amazing!! Like screaming out loud amazing! We hope she can come and celebrate our love and future with us and our loved ones! And we hope she uses her plus one wisely!”

Watch | Portia de Rossi Opens up about her Eating Disorders and Struggles to Accept Her Sexuality

In the newest episode of the online docu-series It Got Better — part of the It Gets Better project to foster hope in LGBT youths — Portia de Rossi discusses how her eating disorder distracted her from addressing her sexual orientation.

I didn’t want to think about being gay. Having the eating disorder was kind of like a babysitter. It kind of allowed me to not think about who I really was.”

Talking about her childhood, the actress candidly speaks about her struggles as a young model.

I felt tremendous responsibility when I was 12 years old, and I was put on a catwalk. My modelling agents had told me to go on a diet. So I didn’t eat for 10 days before then. I’m up on this catwalk, and I’m a little kid and posing and trying to be sexy and strutting around and all the other models are making fun of my bushy eyebrows.”

The Arrested Development star goes on to describe what happened after the bullying.

When I got in the car after that event and just opened up a bag of my favourite candy and just put my whole head in it and I think, ‘Sh*t, what have I done? I just undid two weeks worth of dieting. So then I vomit. I erase the feelings with food, erase the food with vomiting, but you’re still left with the shame.”

Growing up de Rossi felt isolated and confused about her sexual orientation. She first noticed her feelings toward other girls at the age of 10. Being gay was the ultimate taboo in her family. When her mother initially discovered de Rossi’s interest in women, she encouraged her daughter to keep her romantic life private.

When de Rossi headed to the States in the 1990s to pursue her acting career, she battled anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating as she pushed down her personal feelings.

I was 82 pounds at the time, very much in the closet. They were both hand in hand. It was all the same thing: shame.”

De Rossi’s dual struggle is a common one in the LGBT community. Lesbian and bisexual teenagers are twice as likely to report binge eating at least once a month, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Instances of violence, bullying, and fear of rejection when coming out contribute to a predisposition of eating disorders in LGBT teens.

True to the form of the It Gets Better campaign, de Rossi reveals how her life changed and improved. After getting a wake-up call about her deteriorating health because of self-starvation, she began the long road to recovery.

As de Rossi learned to accept her body, she also accepted that she was gay.

Portia de Rossi 02

Who you are is enough. There is no us and them. There is no way to be. There is no normal.… How amazing is it to be alive and be uniquely you?”

The second season of the web series will feature such celebrities as RuPaul, Andrew Rannells, Janet Mock and Nate Berkus.