Last night’s GLEE has my in tears for most of the show. The Valentine’s episode made me suspicious that there would be such a situation with Dave Karofsky, but the scene leading up to his attempt was heartwrenching. If you aren’t convinced about the impact of bullying of LGBT kids, I urge you to watch it online. Far worse was the the scene with Dave’s father cradling his son in his arms while screaming for help.
A “bright” note during the episode was the debut of a brand new PSA featuring Daniel Radcliffe (aka Harry Potter) for the Trevor Project, a 24 crisis line. Watch for yourself:
“My work with The Trevor Project has taught me that the best thing I can do as a straight ally is show my support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. When we let someone know that we accept them for who they are and that we are safe to talk to, we can help save lives. It’s as simple as that,” said Daniel Radcliffe, actor and supporter of The Trevor Project.
The PSA, which empowers youth in crisis to reach out for help and to call the Trevor Lifeline (1-866-488-7386) was produced by Emmett Loverde, a Los Angeles-based writer-director and cinematographer known for his work on such projects as TRU LOVED (2008), the series FREE ADVICE, and the forthcoming TILL YOU GET TO BARABOO. The PSA is available for broadcast and online use.
ABOUT THE TREVOR PROJECT
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people under 24. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential lifeline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and advocacy. Honored by the White House as a “Champion of Change,” The Trevor Project is a leader and innovator in suicide prevention. Learn more at TheTrevorProject.org.
Kudos to GLEE, The Trevor Project and to actor Max Adler for an appropriate performance (and his own personal work fighting bullying.) I’ll be honest … that storyline made the music fade away. I couldn’t name a single performance, just remember Blaine’s intensity as his song interwove with Karofsky’s agony.
No television show is ever going to “get it right” because drama is the medium. But GLEE took on a challenge and paved the way for millions of viewers to see real consequences of bullying and denial.
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