Mass. Gov: It Gets Better

Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, a longtime gay rights supporter and father of a lesbian daughter, has released a video for the It Gets Better Project, which aims to provide messages of hope to young people enduring anti-LGBT bullying.

Patrick does not mention his daughter in the video, but he assures viewers that as the state’s first black governor, “I know what it’s like to be different.” He also says that he knows what it’s like to feel surrounded by people who don’t understand, but he reminds the audience that there are also people who will understand, support, and encourage them.

The governor’s gay-supportive actions include a comprehensive antibullying bill he signed into law last year. He is also a supporter of marriage equality, and this year he issued an executive order banning discrimination against state employees on the basis of gender identity.

Watch the video here.