Red Sox: It Gets Better

After 9,000 fans and a 12-year-old boy urged the Boston Red Sox to create a video message for the It Gets Better campaign, the team released its video Friday.

The 60-second message features Red Sox manager Terry Francona, team captain Jason Varitek, and third baseman Kevin Youkilis. It also features LGBT fans and members of "Red Sox Nation" like Kristen Rosa, a Smith College student and Red Sox fan.

"Bullying is something that has touched many of our lives either personally or through someone we love," Susan Goodenow, Red Sox senior vice president of public affairs and marketing, said in a team statement. "We are proud of dedicated Red Sox fans like 12-year-old Sam Maden who took the courageous step recently to publicly stand up against bullying of LGBT youth, and we are honored to join Sam and others throughout Red Sox Nation in support of the It Gets Better Project."

Other Major League Baseball teams, including the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs, have also released video messages for the campaign. The Red Sox's biggest rival, the New York Yankees, have not yet posted a video.