Category: It Gets Better

Prayers For Bobby

On By Michel McDonaldIn Anti-Gay, Gay, Gay Rights, It Gets Better, Movies, PFLAG, Religion, TVLeave a comment

Has anyone seen this?  This is a movie called Prayers for Bobby, a Lifetime movie based on the true story of a mother (played by Sigourney Weaver) who couldn’t accept her gay son.  Here is the IMDB Synopsis:

“True story of Mary Griffith, gay rights crusader, whose teenage son committed suicide due to her religious intolerance. Based on the book of the same title by Leroy Aarons.”

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZT9b9xp2DU

I watched this movie on YouTube through my Blu-Ray player and boy did I cry my eyes out.  This story is so emotional that I had to pause it a couple of times because I was missing the movie because I was crying so hard.

This is a movie that every religious anti-gay parent and family should watch before they decide to give up on or throw their child away for being gay.

Out Singer-Songwriter Justin Utley Released 2nd Studio Album ‘Nothing This Real’ 11/11/11

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gay, It Gets Better, Music1 Comment

I believe that music touches the heart and soul.  Music inspires creativity and broadens our minds so that we can be great people.  Music derives from a Greek word “Mousike” which means “art of the muses” so it’s no wonder why it gives us inspiration.  Music has always been a part of my life.  When I was a teenager I listened to music all day long to drown out the real world, I guess that is where my creativity came from.

Every year before Spring begins, I seek out new music to add to my mp3 player so that I can listen to something that will get me through my 2 1/2 hour bike rides.  Today I got to listen to an openly-gay country/folk singer named Justin Utley.  He is a New York City based singer-songwriter and he released his first full-length studio album in 6 years entitled “Nothing This Real’ on November 11th.  I really enjoyed listening to his album because I love his voice and his singing style.  He isn’t bad to look at either.

I don’t know what it is about his music but it’s soothing to listen to.  Every song tells a story and every song I listened to I was able to relate to in one way or another.  I guess that is why I know I’m going to love listening to him.  I believe that he has a true “It Gets Better” story.  I found this information about him.

“An Ex-Mormon raised near Salt Lake City, Utah, Utley is perhaps the only openly gay performing artist to have survived ex-gay therapy, a practice that he vocally opposes. His experience coming to terms with his sexuality and religion have emerged as strong themes in his songwriting and on-stage storytelling.

“I’ve been asked if I could take any of it back, you know, what I’ve experienced.  I wouldn’t,” says Utley.  “Its part of me, my story, and its been a hell of a journey.  And I’m here to share that.”

I was a member of the Mormon church when I was a baby and again when I was a teenager.  I wasn’t as involved in the church as he was, but I believe that if we were more involved I probably would have been.

This is actually something that I have come to terms with in my life as well.  I wouldn’t take any of it back because it is what made me who I am today.  Intolerance towards me instilled my ability to be more tolerant towards others.  I was taught hate, but it ended up teaching me the opposite.  It seems like he has the same attitude.  It made him a strong person and that is what I like about him.  When you know an artists story, it makes you connect with them on a deeper level.

“Released in 2005, Utley’s first album Runaway received critical acclaim from audiences and critics in the LGBT community and created a dedicated online following.

“The lead single has been announced as Great Escape and was premiered by New York publication Next Magazine on their website on November 1st. It debuted on Sirius-XM’s OutQ radio channel following Utley’s interview with the Six Pack show on November 2nd. A music video for the single is scheduled for production in early 2012.”

It is too bad that I didn’t know about him back in 2005, but I’m glad to know him now.  Better late than never eh?

His single “Stand for Something” won the 2011 award for Outstanding Country/Folk song of the year by the LGBT Academy of recording arts.  That’s something to be proud of.  He has also acted; he played the lead role of Tommy Dautry in the New York musical “Our Country” which I also didn’t know since I live in Bakersfield.  He also won best actor at the Planet Connections theater festival in 2010.  That is something to really be proud of.

His latest album was released on 11/11/11 and is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon as well as his website and Facebook.

For more information including booking and interview requests, contact Dan Maierle – dmaierle@gmail.com.

Justin Utley is someone who I am going to be paying serious attention to.  I will definitely be buying his music to add to my mp3 player.

‘Meet Justin Utley’ EPK Video:

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm4kc6zmfwI

“My secrets video – It Gets Better” by Savealifeful on YouTube

On By Michel McDonaldIn It Gets Better1 Comment

Gay bashing/bullying is not a new fad, it has been happening for decades.  It is a very sad thing and I feel sorry for every gay person who went through it.  Ever since children started committing suicide because they couldn’t take the bullying anymore, people have been making “It Gets Better” videos and posting them on YouTube.  I love to watch them because I love to see the positive message at the end.  These videos are meant to help children change their minds about suicide, but it also helps us adults who after all those years are still contemplating it.

Take a look at this one.  His YouTube channel is called savealifeful and he brought me to tears with his story.  When he says that the bullies taped him to a pole and then taped his hair, tears flooded my eyes, actually I’m starting to tear up again just thinking about the torture he went through.  Take a look at his story.  Perhaps he will inspire many others out there who are depressed and wanting to make that final decision.  Maybe his video can save a life.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L5pIreg-7c

It Gets Better

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gay, It Gets Better, TVLeave a comment

Logo and MTV will be airing a 1 hour special called “It Gets Better”, take a look at the preview.

You know I have to watch this.  This message has to get out there to all of the gay teens who are contemplating suicide.  They have to know that it gets better, because it does.  I am living proof of that.

Here are the air times that I can see for our cable here in Bakersfield, CA.  It’s cable so I’m sure it’s everywhere.

  • Logo 2/21 11:00 pm
    • 2/22 12:30 am
  • MTV 2/21 11:03 pm
    • 2/24 4:00 pm
    • 2/25 10:30 am

I know it’s going to be inspirational to everyone.  We have to raise awareness any way we can so please watch it and tell all of your friends to watch too.

Source: It Gets Better | Trailer | Video | MTV

My Book is Almost Ready for Publication

On By Michel McDonaldIn Autobiography, It Gets BetterLeave a comment

I started writing my life story many years ago, but really worked hard on it in 2011.  It took me 2+ months to write it and 4 months to edit it.  I have sent it off to a few people as an advanced copy and of course mistakes were found.  So it is not yet ready for publication, but it will be soon.

In case anyone is wondering what it’s about, I’ll tell you.  I was abused as a child by my stepfather; my mother and older sister also mentally abused me.  I tried to kill myself many times from the age of 13 until I was 20.  A woman attempted to molest me when I was 15 years old and I was raped multiple times when I was 20. I was homeless for 6 months at the age of 15 and for 10 months when I was 17.  I was also homeless in my early 20’s; I was living in motels, but that is technically considered being homeless.  I met my soul mate and life partner of 17 (going on 18) years and meeting him was when it got better.

I started out writing my life story (as if anyone cared because I’m a nobody) but then these gay children started killing themselves and it suddenly evolved into an “It Gets Better” book.  I want to show that I had a horrible life and I wanted to end it all, but it got better for me and it can get better for them too if they just hang on for a little bit longer.  It may seem like it’s never going to get better, and believe me, I thought for years it could only get worse, but it did get better.

My main goal is that it may help someone out there who is being bullied and wanting to end it all.  They will read my “it gets better” book and see that it got better for me and it can get better for them too.  If they don’t read it, and I don’t expect them to, then perhaps someone can read it and give them the cliffs-notes version to help them.

I am a bit nervous about publishing it because of course I don’t want the people who I wrote about to get upset with me, despite them being in the wrong.  They don’t even talk to me so I don’t know why I would care if they were upset with me anyway.

I am excited because I am finally finished and can publish it soon.  What makes me more excited is that I can finally help some charities when I get my first check from the sales of the book.  I have wanted to help these charities for a long time but couldn’t because I never had the money.

Today is Wednesday, so hopefully I will be able to publish my book within the next week.  Of course I will be advertising my little butt off here, on Twitter, on Google+ and on Facebook so stay tuned for that lol.

Thanks for reading.