"Until it gets better, I will help you, and I will protect you, and I will listen." Words all kids should hear. Congrats SFPD for this piece...very powerful.
As adults, as gay people, far too often our experiences with the police force us to view them as adversaries. This is wonderful. I was raised to believe them to be protectors & would love seeing the SFPD taking that role in the community to be strong leaders and someone we can rely on....
@cutterx2202 The entire video was shot, edited and directed for free of charge. Some things, like young people's lives, are more important than money, anyway. Thanks for your concern!
My heartfelt thanks go out to each and every officer who participated in the making of this video, as well as to each and every officer who has provided security during an LGBT protest in San Francisco since I moved here three years ago. You guys are doing an amazing job.
This is by far my favorite It Gets Better video. I'm a gay police explorer. I'm out, but not to my post. My post and the agency don't seem very supportive. Hopefully we'll come to a point where they will.
Very nice. I love this kind of stuff: people being bold. speaking out, and feeling comfortable with who they are. Damn this was great to watch. I'm going to watch it one more time. Maybe a couple more times.
im 31 and i work at an indian casino in california as a security offiicer. i am out to some people at work and i will come out to the others when im ready. i love having these people around me who treat me as equals and we hang out on our days off, i go out clubbing with my gay friends. I LOVE BEING GAY!!!!!!!!! being gay brings SO MANY new adventures than if i was straight. i love seeing this video from REAL police officers and the rest of the law enforcement community. IT GETS BETTER!!!!!
i wish the law enforcement in the uk were this open and genuine,there is so much stigma,unnecessary stigma, thank you sfpd, i will be showing collegues
I appreciate the respect that's being presented here by the SFPD. We, the audience, do get a certain feel like they actually care. That being said, there have been some moments where I felt they were insensitive in which my brother and I never received a response or an apology. Maybe this video will serve as closure for us, but I can't help but to still distrust the SFPD with my personal experience. On the other hand, I don't want to detract the attempt here with my anecdotal experience.
I'm on a mission. I'm going to keep watching this video, over and over, until I can make it to the end without getting choked up and teary-eyed. This is so touching.
@sanfrancisoPD I don't know if you can share this information with me or not, but at around 2:14, is the Officer that appears happen to be Officer Youngblood? (I think that was his name.) During the Youth Empowerment Summit hosted by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network in San Francisco, we had two SFPD Officers come down, and that looks a lot like the one I saw.
Thank you to Mayor Lee, Chief Sur, and the entire SFPD for this video. While I am a straight male, I've also been bullied, including being called 'fag,' 'homo,' and other homophobic slurs. Thank you to San Francisco's finest for this wonderful, uplifting, and inspiring video.
This is a very beautiful and moving video. Thanks to all the courageous LGBT officers who made it happen. You will change lives for the better with this video. Please lets get this seen. PASS IT ON Truely a great message of hope and love from San Francisco's finest! BRAVO !!!!
I was born just outside of San Francisco, in Walnut Creek. I am so proud of these people. Thank you for all you do! EVERYONE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE MORE ACCEPTING AND LOVING!
Thank you for posting this, I'm out and everything but I'm one of 3 kids at my school who is lgbt, so thanks for reminding me that even though times get hard, it's not the end of the world.
Coming from a law enforcement family and being a law enforcement explorer I really appreciate this video. It's nice to see other LGBT law enforcement people out there, hopefully other agencies will see this video and make their own too.
This is awesome... Now we just need the rest of the world to follow in there footsteps. And stop hating on the LGBT. We are people and we just want the same rights as everyone else in the world.
Great video. I have wanted to go to San Francisco ever since the days of the late great Harvey Milk. Now I want to go even more! Love from Bristol, England xx
FABULOUS - WONDERFUL! Thanks to all of these strong beautiful people for sharing their stories. This is the message that should be in everyone's inbox!
As a sergeant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, I salute SFPD. This video is awesome! Far and away the best It Gets Better video I have ever seen. I hope ten's of thousands of LGBT youth are able to see this because it truly does get better! Thank you SFPD for standing proud! I may even start using this video in our Diversity Training at the LASD academy!
As a 42-year-old high school teacher, I feel so fortunate to see how much better things have become for all of us who are different and love the fact that a solid majority of my students do not understand why anyone would even care that I am gay. Still, I am overwhelmed every time I see a video like this and am grateful that the SFPD launched this video. Let me assure you that you cannot overestimate the importance of your testimonials to young people.
Yet another reason why I have chosen this amazing place to live and call home! Thank you, Chief Suhr, and the courageous men and women of the San Francisco Police Department. Shawn North, your telling of their stories was beyond beautiful -- you are so talented! It definitely gets better -- as a matter of fact, it gets fabulous! San Francisco, you are the best!
It terms of a video it doesn't get any better than this. I had a difficult first 20 years but my life began to get better, so much better. I can look back now and be proud of myself for surviving what I thought was un-survivable. Thank you so much.
As soon as it started, I was tearing up, and by the end, i was balling... thank you for giving everyone in the LGBT community hope again. and again, thank you all so much, i just cant express how much it meant to me, to see that video....
@NovaFur Just do it! Do not let them bring you down. Stay strong and know that it does get better...much better. I know that from personal experience. Whenever you feel alone and frustrated again.....just watch this video. You are not alone. Hugs!
This is a wonderfully affirmative video. The relationship between the San Francisco Police Department and the gay community has evolved greatly over the last three decades, catalyzed by the influx of understanding, compassionate people who personally faced social injustice before, but have now rightfully earned their positions in public office and law enforcement to make the City a better place for all. Congratulations on being the first police department to take a firm stand in this campaign!
*sniff* Now I wanna move to San Francisco too. I don't even like cities and Santa Cruz is too big for me! Thank you and ill be sharing this video with my classmates.
@SFRWood The video was done for free. The director, who also edited and shot the video, gave his time for free over a six month process. This would have been in the tens of thousands of dollars of Mr. Northcutt had charged market rates.
Thank you, officers. If these were around when I was a kid, I suspect I'd have had a much better life. And good on you for helping make the world a better place for LGBT kids growing up today. Thank you.
Thank you for this video. I'm a 17 year old transgender and I recently got out of being bullied just this year. After 5 years. I have attempted to take my life, but something would always snap me back into reality, like the voice in the back of my mind said it'd get better, don't do it. So I didn't. I still live in a mix community but I found friends that love me for who I am. Your video made me gain back that attitude that things will get better for me later on. Thank you, officers.
Equal rights is still an ongoing battle but if you look at society compared to how it was just 10 years ago you can tell, slowly but surely it is getting better.
@DrkFrdric Me, too. I watched it twice. Same thing both times. This is a lovely, courageous, hopeful and uplifting video. Thank you SFPD. I'm passing this one around.
The men and women of the San Franciso police department risk their lives every day for the saftey of others, please let this video just go on and be seen by more than just 18,078 people.. spread the word and make the world a BETTER place.
Thank you SFPD for doing this video. Young people grow up with enough stress as is, without the added stress of being LGBT and having to justify ourselves to everyone.
Hopefully my parent's homophobic police department gets a hold of of this video and it changes a few opinions around there so they stop trying to destroy a career. Seeing that there is tolerance and understanding out there in the corners of a male-dominated, somewhat conservative workplace gives me a bit more hope.
@RobertEmery Video, There was no disrespect meant, I was discussing the images that were available when I was growing up, images that were meant to disparage and ridicule LGBT peoples. This was not intended to be negative. Times and people change. We have come so far and it because of those changes that GLBT are everywhere in all kinds of occupations. I apologize for any offense taken.
@DsOwAn Whoops, you're right, got my terms mixed up. As someone who is in the LGBT community and done some research into health inequalities of LGBT persons, I should have my vocabulary down :P Still, the statement stands that the officer mentioned on the video is likely a transsexual, and neither a transvestite nor a hermaphrodite.
Listen to me carefully! I really appreciate all the officers and SFPD personnel involved in this video. I thank them! It is just amazing to me that 90% of this people are perceived to be white!... I am really upset by the poor work of the producers that were not able to paint a true representation of the police community in San Francisco and the people they deal with on a daily basis…!
This video is so powerful! Wonderful message SFPD!!! I hope someday the rest of the nation gets the chance to show their love the way my husband and I can. It's not fair that we had the opportunity to marry and openly love, but LGBT still don't. I can't wait till they can!!!
As if I really needed yet another reason to love the SFPD. What an amazing, beautiful video. Thank You Chief Suhr and Thank You SFPD. I truly love you guys. Be Safe Out There!
Thank you SFPD for making a wonderful video. As someone who aspires to be a police officer you send a powerful message not only to the youth out there but to people in who want to work in law enforcement or Fire. Thank you!!
Thank you so much for making this video. You will help so many people. Hopefully this generation will be open to accepting individuals for who they are. Red, yellow, black, and white, gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender. We all bleed the same red. Thank you SFPD. i would also like to add people with physical, emotional, mental disabilities.
This is amazingly touching and positive video to have made. I wish more people in the world were as brilliant as these officers and law enforcement professionals.
Kudos, SFPD. This is what the community needs from the police. Courage and Empathy. To serve and protect. Everyone. To be Gay is to be Normal. If you believe in God, God created our biology and some people are Gay and some people are Straight. It's all good. Thank you.
Thank you so much for making this video. You will help so many people. Hopefully this generation will be open to accepting individuals for who they are. Red, yellow, black, and white, gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender. We all bleed the same red. Thank you SFPD
So much respect for the people behind this video! Amazing... Thank you; from everyone, especially those that are currently too afraid to thank you publicly!
@xrtech1 no, trans'vestite' (like vest, or vestir in spanish, to wear) means someone who wears clothes that typically are worn by the other gender. a transexual is someone who goes through a surgical gender change.
Regarding counter #2:39: It is possible the young men to whom they are speaking are effeminate (or, at the very least, are percieved that way...and rediculed for being so). I must confess, it felt like a kick in the stomach when I hear those words. I happen to be a limp-wristed hairdresser, so.........are you suggesting I am 'less than' or maybe even the cause of your shame? You stated it in rather plain language, and it hurts. Your video is very positive and powerful, except for the...
"Until it gets better, I will help you, and I will protect you, and I will listen." Words all kids should hear. Congrats SFPD for this piece...very powerful.
As adults, as gay people, far too often our experiences with the police force us to view them as adversaries. This is wonderful. I was raised to believe them to be protectors & would love seeing the SFPD taking that role in the community to be strong leaders and someone we can rely on....
Thank you, SFPD for making this video! FYI, you need to fix the number for the TREVOR help line. It's 866-4-U-TREVOR not 886-4-U-TREVOR
@cutterx2202 The entire video was shot, edited and directed for free of charge. Some things, like young people's lives, are more important than money, anyway. Thanks for your concern!
My heartfelt thanks go out to each and every officer who participated in the making of this video, as well as to each and every officer who has provided security during an LGBT protest in San Francisco since I moved here three years ago. You guys are doing an amazing job.
The quote that they have on San Francisco's Police Badge is really neat. Here's a translation of it. "Gold in peace, Steel in war."
This is by far my favorite It Gets Better video. I'm a gay police explorer. I'm out, but not to my post. My post and the agency don't seem very supportive. Hopefully we'll come to a point where they will.
Very nice. I love this kind of stuff: people being bold. speaking out, and feeling comfortable with who they are. Damn this was great to watch. I'm going to watch it one more time. Maybe a couple more times.
I had no idea the department was even putting this together...well done! Brought a tear to my eyes! Thanks Chief!
im 31 and i work at an indian casino in california as a security offiicer. i am out to some people at work and i will come out to the others when im ready. i love having these people around me who treat me as equals and we hang out on our days off, i go out clubbing with my gay friends. I LOVE BEING GAY!!!!!!!!! being gay brings SO MANY new adventures than if i was straight. i love seeing this video from REAL police officers and the rest of the law enforcement community. IT GETS BETTER!!!!!
I'm straight, but this video makes me a little happier about living on this planet. Awesome.
i wish the law enforcement in the uk were this open and genuine,there is so much stigma,unnecessary stigma, thank you sfpd, i will be showing collegues
This is amazing. Thank you so much for standing up for young people in your community and beyond.
A very moving video from a fellow officer in the UK.
I appreciate the respect that's being presented here by the SFPD. We, the audience, do get a certain feel like they actually care. That being said, there have been some moments where I felt they were insensitive in which my brother and I never received a response or an apology. Maybe this video will serve as closure for us, but I can't help but to still distrust the SFPD with my personal experience. On the other hand, I don't want to detract the attempt here with my anecdotal experience.
I'm on a mission. I'm going to keep watching this video, over and over, until I can make it to the end without getting choked up and teary-eyed. This is so touching.
@sanfrancisoPD I don't know if you can share this information with me or not, but at around 2:14, is the Officer that appears happen to be Officer Youngblood? (I think that was his name.)
During the Youth Empowerment Summit hosted by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network in San Francisco, we had two SFPD Officers come down, and that looks a lot like the one I saw.
Thank you to Mayor Lee, Chief Sur, and the entire SFPD for this video. While I am a straight male, I've also been bullied, including being called 'fag,' 'homo,' and other homophobic slurs. Thank you to San Francisco's finest for this wonderful, uplifting, and inspiring video.
This is a very beautiful and moving video. Thanks to all the courageous LGBT officers who made it happen. You will change lives for the better with this video. Please lets get this seen. PASS IT ON Truely a great message of hope and love from San Francisco's finest! BRAVO !!!!
Thank you all for sharing -- you seem like beautiful individuals, each of you. Great job on the editing, too.
I was born just outside of San Francisco, in Walnut Creek. I am so proud of these people. Thank you for all you do! EVERYONE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE MORE ACCEPTING AND LOVING!
Thank you for posting this, I'm out and everything but I'm one of 3 kids at my school who is lgbt, so thanks for reminding me that even though times get hard, it's not the end of the world.
Coming from a law enforcement family and being a law enforcement explorer I really appreciate this video. It's nice to see other LGBT law enforcement people out there, hopefully other agencies will see this video and make their own too.
This is awesome... Now we just need the rest of the world to follow in there footsteps. And stop hating on the LGBT. We are people and we just want the same rights as everyone else in the world.
Great video. I have wanted to go to San Francisco ever since the days of the late great Harvey Milk. Now I want to go even more! Love from Bristol, England xx
I always knew San Fran was a great city. Even though I'm a straight person, this was wonderful.
FABULOUS - WONDERFUL! Thanks to all of these strong beautiful people for sharing their stories. This is the message that should be in everyone's inbox!
You are ALL beautiful people!! Thank you for being so brave AND for serving the fine city of SF!!
I appreciate that LGB and T was represented, thanks to those who took part in the video
Beautiful. Honest. Every school should give their students and opportunity to witness this courageous outpouring of concern.
As a sergeant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, I salute SFPD. This video is awesome! Far and away the best It Gets Better video I have ever seen. I hope ten's of thousands of LGBT youth are able to see this because it truly does get better! Thank you SFPD for standing proud! I may even start using this video in our Diversity Training at the LASD academy!
Thank you. My niece is gay and I am so thankful that there are places with this kind of sensitivity in our world.
This is awesome. As a former officer for a bay area force, I'm proud of SFPD and can't imagine living anywhere else but the city! Way to go SFPD!
As a 42-year-old high school teacher, I feel so fortunate to see how much better things have become for all of us who are different and love the fact that a solid majority of my students do not understand why anyone would even care that I am gay. Still, I am overwhelmed every time I see a video like this and am grateful that the SFPD launched this video. Let me assure you that you cannot overestimate the importance of your testimonials to young people.
Yet another reason why I have chosen this amazing place to live and call home! Thank you, Chief Suhr, and the courageous men and women of the San Francisco Police Department. Shawn North, your telling of their stories was beyond beautiful -- you are so talented! It definitely gets better -- as a matter of fact, it gets fabulous! San Francisco, you are the best!
Wonderful video! I love the story of the Dad who apologized if he ever said "Fag." Thank you for perpetuating the message that it does get better.
This is an awesome video. BRAVO to the SFPD for taking a stand and making something happen to help others. Good job.
This should be the absolute point of pride for the department. So moving.
It terms of a video it doesn't get any better than this. I had a difficult first 20 years but my life began to get better, so much better. I can look back now and be proud of myself for surviving what I thought was un-survivable. Thank you so much.
As soon as it started, I was tearing up, and by the end, i was balling... thank you for giving everyone in the LGBT community hope again. and again, thank you all so much, i just cant express how much it meant to me, to see that video....
@NovaFur Just do it! Do not let them bring you down. Stay strong and know that it does get better...much better. I know that from personal experience. Whenever you feel alone and frustrated again.....just watch this video. You are not alone. Hugs!
I am so proud to be a San Franciscan.. :)
What a moving video! I have a new level of "respect" for my friends in the SFPD. Highest congrats for everyone.
I just wanted to say thank you, for everything.
This is so much better than the UC Davis PD version, which just pepper sprays the viewer.
This is a wonderfully affirmative video. The relationship between the San Francisco Police Department and the gay community has evolved greatly over the last three decades, catalyzed by the influx of understanding, compassionate people who personally faced social injustice before, but have now rightfully earned their positions in public office and law enforcement to make the City a better place for all. Congratulations on being the first police department to take a firm stand in this campaign!
Thank you ALL for doing this!
*sniff* Now I wanna move to San Francisco too. I don't even like cities and Santa Cruz is too big for me! Thank you and ill be sharing this video with my classmates.
@SFRWood The video was done for free. The director, who also edited and shot the video, gave his time for free over a six month process. This would have been in the tens of thousands of dollars of Mr. Northcutt had charged market rates.
A wonderful video!
Thank you, officers. If these were around when I was a kid, I suspect I'd have had a much better life.
And good on you for helping make the world a better place for LGBT kids growing up today.
Thank you.
Thank you guys.
Thank you for this video. I'm a 17 year old transgender and I recently got out of being bullied just this year. After 5 years. I have attempted to take my life, but something would always snap me back into reality, like the voice in the back of my mind said it'd get better, don't do it. So I didn't. I still live in a mix community but I found friends that love me for who I am. Your video made me gain back that attitude that things will get better for me later on. Thank you, officers.
I don't want to be around either , breathing is hard most days, alone doesn't begin to describe it.
yes! gay police officers proving that gay men can be tough too!
This is a great step for law enforcement and I hope other agencies follow their lead. Great job San Francisco! :)
great video - Mahalo to the many SFPD members who participated - many are old pals from back when we lived in SF - Aloha from Dan & Tom in Kailua-Kona
Equal rights is still an ongoing battle but if you look at society compared to how it was just 10 years ago you can tell, slowly but surely it is getting better.
OMG! Love this! What an excellent video. I wish other cities would follow suit,and help get the message out there.Difference is beautiful!
@DrkFrdric Me, too. I watched it twice. Same thing both times. This is a lovely, courageous, hopeful and uplifting video. Thank you SFPD. I'm passing this one around.
The men and women of the San Franciso police department risk their lives every day for the saftey of others, please let this video just go on and be seen by more than just 18,078 people.. spread the word and make the world a BETTER place.
@Magnetlarry aw man, me too, and i don't cry from stuff like this, it was the end that got me. it was so genuine, so pure.
This RULES. All hail the SFPD.
Beautifully done, and you are all so brave. Thank you all.
Thank you SFPD for doing this video. Young people grow up with enough stress as is, without the added stress of being LGBT and having to justify ourselves to everyone.
Hopefully my parent's homophobic police department gets a hold of of this video and it changes a few opinions around there so they stop trying to destroy a career. Seeing that there is tolerance and understanding out there in the corners of a male-dominated, somewhat conservative workplace gives me a bit more hope.
@RobertEmery Video, There was no disrespect meant, I was discussing the images that were available when I was growing up, images that were meant to disparage and ridicule LGBT peoples. This was not intended to be negative. Times and people change. We have come so far and it because of those changes that GLBT are everywhere in all kinds of occupations. I apologize for any offense taken.
Incredibly proud of my coworkers right now!
@DsOwAn Whoops, you're right, got my terms mixed up. As someone who is in the LGBT community and done some research into health inequalities of LGBT persons, I should have my vocabulary down :P
Still, the statement stands that the officer mentioned on the video is likely a transsexual, and neither a transvestite nor a hermaphrodite.
Listen to me carefully!
I really appreciate all the officers and SFPD personnel involved in this video.
I thank them!
It is just amazing to me that 90% of this people are perceived to be white!... I am really upset by the poor work of the producers that were not able to paint a true representation of the police community in San Francisco and the people they deal with on a daily basis…!
This video is so powerful! Wonderful message SFPD!!! I hope someday the rest of the nation gets the chance to show their love the way my husband and I can. It's not fair that we had the opportunity to marry and openly love, but LGBT still don't. I can't wait till they can!!!
As if I really needed yet another reason to love the SFPD. What an amazing, beautiful video. Thank You Chief Suhr and Thank You SFPD. I truly love you guys. Be Safe Out There!
Thank you SFPD for making a wonderful video. As someone who aspires to be a police officer you send a powerful message not only to the youth out there but to people in who want to work in law enforcement or Fire. Thank you!!
I am proud being San Franciscan, now. Thank you for showing a good example.
THANK YOU for this sharing. You are courageous and beautiful role models for our youth! Bless you all for doing this!
So proud of my city... You are all amazing!
Thank you so much for making this video. You will help so many people. Hopefully this generation will be open to accepting individuals for who they are. Red, yellow, black, and white, gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender. We all bleed the same red. Thank you SFPD. i would also like to add people with physical, emotional, mental disabilities.
Thanks, folks. I wish this positive attitude were more common. It needs to get better for all of us: gay, straight, in between; adults or youth.
This was beautiful. This world really is wonderful! You just have to look in the right places...
I wanna move to San Francisco!
This is amazingly touching and positive video to have made. I wish more people in the world were as brilliant as these officers and law enforcement professionals.
Kudos, SFPD. This is what the community needs from the police. Courage and Empathy. To serve and protect. Everyone. To be Gay is to be Normal. If you believe in God, God created our biology and some people are Gay and some people are Straight. It's all good. Thank you.
Thank you so much for making this video. You will help so many people. Hopefully this generation will be open to accepting individuals for who they are. Red, yellow, black, and white, gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender. We all bleed the same red. Thank you SFPD
" I am so proud of the San Francisco police department. "
Thank you, Proud of my City, and the SFPD.
So much respect for the people behind this video! Amazing... Thank you; from everyone, especially those that are currently too afraid to thank you publicly!
Thank you guys so much for making this. I love you all and these videos mean the world to me.
Nice video. The guy at 03:20 looks really cute.
as a very straight dude, i have to say - this is just fantastic!
I love this so much.
Bless each of you. Thank you so much for your courage and compassion and commitment in doing this. Amazing and so very needed.
This video has a powerful message, for youth and adults. It does get better. It's your life.There is no shame about being how you are.
Thank all of you for doing this video our teens need to see there is help out there
Thank you, each and every one of you, for making this video.
I am so proud to work everyday with some of the people in this video and to call them my friends it does get better we are all proof!
Damn fine work to everyone involved in this video, bravery on display.
@xrtech1 no, trans'vestite' (like vest, or vestir in spanish, to wear) means someone who wears clothes that typically are worn by the other gender. a transexual is someone who goes through a surgical gender change.
I have so much respect for the SFPD right now.
As a transgender EMT, let me just simply say thank you for this.
Regarding counter #2:39:
It is possible the young men to whom they are speaking are effeminate (or, at the very least, are percieved that way...and rediculed for being so). I must confess, it felt like a kick in the stomach when I hear those words. I happen to be a limp-wristed hairdresser, so.........are you suggesting I am 'less than' or maybe even the cause of your shame? You stated it in rather plain language, and it hurts. Your video is very positive and powerful, except for the...