Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-MD) and all Democratic members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation today released a video message in support of the “It Gets Better Project,” encouraging young people who are victims of bullying to try to stay strong and talk to someone who cares because “it gets better.” Participants in the video include Senators Cardin and Mikulski, Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-7), Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-8), Rep. John Sarbanes (MD-3), and Rep. Donna Edwards (MD-4).

“There is no place for bullying and discrimination in Maryland or anywhere in America—whether it’s in the halls of our schools, on the internet or in our military. Bullying is not a rite of passage and it is not okay,” the Senators and Representatives of Team Maryland say in their video.  “Our state and our nation both are stronger because of our diversity. It is our job to make sure that diversity is celebrated and protected, rather than discouraged or outlawed.  No one should ever have to hide who they are and I encourage you to just be yourself.”

The video is available here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgeox0TKyOQ

Team Maryland’s video was produced in support of the It Gets Better Project (http://itgetsbetter.org), which was founded last year after a series of tragic suicides by LGBT youth who were bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Through a series of videos – over 10,000 that have been viewed more than 35 million times — the It Gets Better Project helps youth see that a brighter future awaits them beyond adolescence and that it really will get better. Video submissions have included President Obama, the Baltimore Orioles, Maryland First Lady Katie O’Malley and Montgomery College.

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