Almost year after the kickoff of Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" project, Multnomah County Board of Commissioners has created their own video in the same vein. While it dabbles in LGBTQ awareness, the main focus is on general bullying, and how hard it can be on teenagers in particular. "There are times when things seem so dark. I've been there, I've seen that darkness," says Chair Jeff Cogen. "But what I really want people to know is that the darkness lifts."



While it appears board member inspired, the idea itself was sparked by a Grant High School Junior and county intern, Giovanni McKenzie. "I used (my internship) to focus on a project that was close to my heart and affects many young people today," McKenzie says on the Board's website. The site and video also offer local help lines for teens.

A little behind the times, but important nonetheless.

Check out Savage's June follow-up on the movement in the Mercury.