Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, both appear in new videos made for the “It Gets Better” project.
The project began last year after several gay and lesbian youths committed suicide after being harassed, bullied, or shunned because of their sexual orientation. The videos, now numbering more than 10,000, encourage teens to stick out the tough times, promising that acceptance, equality, and happiness “can be a reality.” Everyone from President Barack Obama to Ellen DeGeneres have made video messages, along with every day citizens.
In the latest installment, unveiled at a news conference in Washington Wednesday morning, Blumenthal and 12 of his Democratic Senate colleagues-including Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Chuck Schumer of New York-are featured in a five-minute piece.
They point to efforts in Congress to promote equality for homosexuals. “We are working every day to make sure that it gets better,” Blumenthal says about two minutes into the piece.
All the lawmakers are co-sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and allow the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where it is already legal, such as Connecticut.
Himes make a solo appearance in his “It Gets Better” video, which you can watch here.