Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Honest accounts of LGBTQ+ life inspire hope for teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
It Gets Better
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
IT GETS BETTER is a TV special/documentary inspired by the It Gets Better Project. The film follows the stories of three real-life subjects who are at unique impasses related to their identities as gay or transgender people. There's Greg, a teen who's tired of hiding his sexual orientation and wants to come out to his friends and family. Vanessa is comfortable being a lesbian, but she still struggles to get her mom to accept her girlfriend, and Aydian worries that being transgender will create legal snags as he plans to marry his girlfriend. The show is anchored by the It Gets Better Project's co-creator Dan Savage and his partner, Terry Miller, who share words of wisdom from their own experiences in between story segments and video messages from project supporters like Margaret Cho and Chaz Bono.
Is It Any Good?
This documentary centers on issues specific to LGBTQ+ youth, but its inspiring message is likely to touch any teen or young adult who's been harassed for any reason. What began as one testimonial of hope in a YouTube video has evolved into a worldwide movement, thanks to Savage and tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ mentors and supporters who've added their own advice to the project's website to give hope to struggling teens. It Gets Better expands on the campaign by giving viewers a more thorough glimpse into the lives of three people offering to share their stories about being gay, lesbian, or transgender in today's society. Their empowering messages and honest accounts are likely to raise thoughtful discussion points between parents and teens about topics like relationships, bullying, and the state of civil rights for queer people today.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the messages in It Gets Better. Is it difficult to relate to people who are different from you? Why is it important to try? How can diversity make a group stronger?
Parents and teens can also talk about bullying. Have you ever witnessed or been a part of bullying? How does it feel to be on the receiving end? What are some ways you can stand up for yourself or others against this kind of treatment?
Teens: How do we safely find and share information online? What are some of the benefits of connecting with people online? Is it easier to say or do things virtually than it is in person because of your anonymity? Is this always a good thing?
How does It Gets Better promote compassion and empathy? Why are those important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 21, 2012
- Cast : Dan Savage
- Networks : Logo , MTV
- Genre : Reality TV
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : June 19, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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