The It Gets Better Project, a U.S.-based organization that works to support LGBT young people dealing with emotional problems, is spreading its campaign to gay youth in Russia.
The project said in a statement Thursday that with the Olympics in Sochi approaching, Russia and its anti-gay propaganda law will become the focus of global attention.
In a new video series produced by the It Gets Better and available in Russian translation, LGBT men and women from Chile, Moldova, South Africa and other countries address gay Russian youth with the message "You are beautiful."
"We want every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individual to know they are beautiful, valued and important, and that their friends and allies in the international community are keeping a close eye on their situation while working to end such injustice," the project's director Ted Farley said in a statement.
Since the law banning the "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" took effect in June, Russian authorities have been criticized by the human rights organizations and the international gay activists for what they say is a violation of sexual minorities' rights. The law is especially geared towards preventing propaganda to minors.
It Gets Better was founded in 2010 by author Dan Savage and his now-husband Terry Miller to work against bullying of LGBT youth that has lead to suicide. The site has received more than 50,000 videos from Internet users, celebrities and politicians telling young gay people that their lives will get better.
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