People in the United States vary widely in their acceptance of the sexual and gender choices and orientations. The impact of those with views of lesser acceptance is felt the hardest by the most vulnerable among us- our children.

Watch the following video of a Ft. Worth City Councilman speaking about his experiences as a young man marginalized based on his sexual orientation and consider the impact such a message would have on a young person in a similar situation and on an adult who is intolerant of the LGBTQ community.

· Joel Burns: It Gets Better https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax96cghOnY4 (transcript located on YouTube site)

Compare and contrast what you believe the experiences of these two individuals (the insecure LGBTQ youth and the intolerant adult) viewing this message would be. How might it reinforce existing beliefs about themselves or motivate them to see themselves and/or the world differently? What additional information would you propose to share with either or both of these individuals to persuade them into such a paradigm shift?

Write a 5-paragraph essay that includes each of the elements listed below in the grading rubric. Be sure to use at least 2 references to support your essay. Your paper must meet the minimum 750-word count requirements.