9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
1[br]00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000[br]Like all of you, I was shocked and saddened by the deaths of

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
2[br]00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,000[br]several young people who were bullied and taunted for being

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
3[br]00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:09,000[br]gay and who ultimately took their own lives.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
4[br]00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,000[br]As a parent of two daughters, it breaks my heart.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
5[br]00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,000[br]It's something that just shouldn't happen

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
6[br]00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:15,000[br]in this country.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
7[br]00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:19,000[br]Now we've got to dispel this myth that bullying is just a

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
8[br]00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,000[br]normal rite of passage, that it's some inevitable

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
9[br]00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,000[br]part of growing up.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
10[br]00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:25,000[br]It's not.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
11[br]00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,000[br]We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe for

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
12[br]00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:30,000[br]all of our kids.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
13[br]00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,000[br]And to every young person out there,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
14[br]00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,000[br]you need to know that if you're in trouble,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
15[br]00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,000[br]there are caring adults who can help.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
16[br]00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,000[br]I don't know what it's like to be picked on for being gay,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
17[br]00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,000[br]but I do know what it's like to grow up feeling that sometimes

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
18[br]00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,000[br]you don't belong.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
19[br]00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,000[br]It's tough.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
20[br]00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,000[br]And for a lot of kids the sense of being alone or apart,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
21[br]00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,000[br]I know it can just wear on you.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
22[br]00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,000[br]And when you're teased or bullied it can seem like somehow

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
23[br]00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,000[br]you have brought it on yourself for being different or for not

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
24[br]00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,000[br]fitting in with everybody else.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
25[br]00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,000[br]But what I want to say is this: You are not alone,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
26[br]00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,000[br]you didn't do anything wrong, you didn't do anything to

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
27[br]00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:15,000[br]deserve being bullied, and there's a whole world waiting

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
28[br]00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,000[br]for you filled with possibilities.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
29[br]00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,000[br]There are people out there that love you and care about you

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
30[br]00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,000[br]just the way you are.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
31[br]00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,000[br]And so, if you ever feel like because of bullying,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
32[br]00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,000[br]because of what people are saying,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
33[br]00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,000[br]that you are getting down on yourself,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
34[br]00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,000[br]you've got to make sure to reach out to people you trust;

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
35[br]00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,000[br]whether it's your parents, teachers,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
36[br]00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,000[br]or folks that you know care about you just the way you are.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
37[br]00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:41,000[br]You've got to reach out to them.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
38[br]00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,000[br]Don't feel like you are in this by yourself.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
39[br]00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,000[br]The other thing you need to know is things will get better,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
40[br]00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,000[br]and more than that, with time you are going to see that your

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
41[br]00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:55,000[br]differences are a source of pride and a source of strength.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
42[br]00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,000[br]You'll look back on the struggles you've faced with

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
43[br]00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,000[br]compassion and wisdom, and that's not just going to

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
44[br]00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,000[br]serve you, but it'll help you get involved and make

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
45[br]00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,000[br]this country a better place.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
46[br]00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,000[br]It will mean that you'll be more likely to help fight

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
47[br]00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,000[br]discrimination, not just against LGBT Americans but

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
48[br]00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,000[br]discrimination in all its forms.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
49[br]00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,000[br]It means you'll be more likely to understand personally and

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
50[br]00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,000[br]deeply why it's so important that as adults we set an example

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
51[br]00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,000[br]in our own lives and that we treat everybody with respect,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
52[br]00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,000[br]that we are able to see the world through other people's

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
53[br]00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,000[br]eyes and stand in their shoes, that we never lose sight of

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
54[br]00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,000[br]what binds us together.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
55[br]00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,000[br]As a nation, we're founded on the belief that all of us are

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
56[br]00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,000[br]equal and each of us deserves the freedom to pursue our own

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
57[br]00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,000[br]version of happiness, to make the most of our talents,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
58[br]00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,000[br]to speak our minds, to not fit in;

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
59[br]00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,000[br]most of all,to be true to ourselves.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
60[br]00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,000[br]That's the freedom that enriches all of us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
61[br]00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,000[br]That's what America is all about,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
62[br]00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,000[br]and every day it gets better.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000