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Thursday, November 17, 2011

It Gets Better: Chris Armstrong Announces Scholarship for Victims of Bullying at University of Michigan

Posted by on Thu, Nov 17, 2011 at 1:00 PM

 

Comments (9) RSS

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1
THAT FUCKING GLASS JAR WOULD"VE HIT ME SQUARE IN THE FUCKING FACE!!
Posted by AAAAAARRGGGHHHHHH!!!!! on November 17, 2011 at 1:09 PM
gloomy gus 2
How lovely! He is the youngest person I've seen announce a scholarship in his own name.
Posted by gloomy gus on November 17, 2011 at 1:16 PM
Vince 3
I'm in love. You are wonderful Chris. Thank you.
Posted by Vince on November 17, 2011 at 1:23 PM
4
What a wonderful gesture on behalf of Chris and his parents!

I'm proud to be an alumna of the University of Michigan.
Posted by AKTheresa on November 17, 2011 at 2:04 PM
5
Three cheers for the Armstrong family.
Posted by Clayton on November 17, 2011 at 2:39 PM
6
Well done that man!
Posted by truant on November 17, 2011 at 8:04 PM
7
That is wonderful! A strong, intelligent young man, a supportive community, and proof that a brilliantly simple idea can go a long way towards helping to change the world.
Posted by secretchord on November 17, 2011 at 9:17 PM
8
The audio transcription is, while unintentionally hilarious at times, not particularly good on this one, so here goes:

[Chris] "Hey everyone, this is Chris Armstrong. You might remember me as the former student body president at the University of Michigan, and the first openly gay president at U of M.

A year ago, an assistant attorney general in Michigan began bullying and stalking me because I was gay,and tried in every way he possibly could to get me kicked out of office. Now at the time it was one of the hardest times I've ever dealt with.

When it began, when the bullying and opression began, the university was there to support me with all of its resources. Michigan alumni rushed to help me with the situation and professors and students and staff all stood by me in one of my darkest times, and because of this we were able to turn it around. My attacker lost his job, I finised my term, and a message that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable was sent throughout the nation.

Now at the time, when I was dealing with all this, I got a call from my Dad, and he said something to me that he never really had said before. He said that he was proud of me, that he was proud of everything that I had become and of everything I stood for, and not only that - he said that my Grandfather, who died when I was only two, would be proud of everything I was and am as well.

Going to Michigan showed me how it can get better, and I want to be able to show you as well. That's why my Dad, my Mom and I are announcing the Chris Armstrong fund at the University of Michigan. This is a scholarship for anyone who's experienced bullying or other adversity and gives them the opportunity to come to the University of Michigan - a far better place to be who you are, and to express everything you want to express.

It's not enough for schools in our communities to just say that they're inclusive to us. Rather they must show every one of us, whether we are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, that it does get better, and show us how. Any community that doesn't actively demonstrate to the LGBT community that it gets better, doesn't deserve us, and doesn't deserve us as a member.

Last year, whilst doing everything, I began watching these videos for encouragement, and hoped that it could actually get better for me. Now, a year out from everything, I'm here to tell you that it does get better".

[Ends]
More...
Posted by Rubbish_Transcriber on November 18, 2011 at 3:52 AM
9
Well, Mr. Savage, if at least one of your frickin' Facebook pages allowed the public to post a link (and I don't mean under Comments) - this link would be there:
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/20/142364493/…
Posted by parisimo on November 20, 2011 at 1:22 PM

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