SEATTLE, WA — Eric Williams is an Iraq War veteran, an adoptive Washingtonian, and a lifelong Seattle Mariners fan who grew up watching Ken Griffey, Jr. He believes that Seattle and Washington as a whole take pride in the diversity of their citizens. That's one of the reasons he calls the Puget Sound home.
Since he recently completed his contract with the U.S. Army, Eric is also living as an openly gay man "without fear of punishment" for the first time in his life. Now, Eric has become a champion for those who may be bullied for being gay or being perceived as gay -- because he knows what it's like to feel isolated as a child and to experience homophobia as an adult.
Inspired by news that the San Francisco Giants had responded to fan Sean Chapin's petition on Change.org by becoming the first pro sports team to create an "It Gets Better" anti-bullying video, Eric came up with the idea to ask the Seattle Mariners to step up to the plate. In a short period of time, more than 3,000 people -- mostly Mariners fans -- have already signed Eric's petition on Change.org .
This week, the Giants released their "It Gets Better" video (WATCH HERE), and both the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox announced that they will follow the Giants in making videos in response to similar Change.org petitions from their fans. The Mariners could be the fourth pro sports team in the country to join the campaign if they respond to Eric's petition.
Eric describes growing up in a small, rural town listening to family and friends saying hurtful things about gay people -- without even knowing they were talking about him. He didn't know anyone who was gay. He says, "Every time I saw someone on television who was gay, or a sitcom with a gay character, I clung on for dear life. These individuals were something that I could relate to."
Eric remembers how being able to look up to and relate to openly gay men became very important again during his two tours in Iraq, when he felt isolated by a climate of homophobia both in Iraqi culture, in which it was not uncommon for gay men to be beaten and killed "as examples," and among his own comrades, who used slurs.
Eric thinks a video from the team could be a milestone in professional sports -- and other fields.
"I started the petition to the Seattle Mariners because I know that my story is not special," Eric Williams said. "Out there right now is a young boy feeling ashamed, because he is surrounded by negative voices. He may even feel his life is not worth the pain."
"I don't expect that we can find these kids and prevent their pain, however, I know that if we put positive voices out where they can hear them these kids are more likely to get the message that things will improve. And by getting the message from people they admire, such as their favorite player for the Seattle Mariners, they might believe that it actually does gets better. It has for me, and it will for them."
Eric is one of more than 30 sports fans from around the country who have launched petitions on Change.org urging their favorite sports teams to produce an "It Gets Better" video. His petition reflects the momentum building in professional sports to confront homophobia and create a welcoming environment for LGBT athletes following controversial incidents involving Atlanta Braves' pitching coach Roger McDowell and basketball star Kobe Bryant.
Currently, there are no openly gay athletes playing in any of the four major pro sports, as ABC News recently highlighted in a story about 2011 possibly being a watershed year for LGBT athletes.
More than 10,000 "It Gets Better" videos have been produced since syndicated columnist Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller launched the project in September 2010, in response to an epidemic of teen suicides by gay kids and kids perceived to be gay. Through "It Gets Better" videos, President Barack Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and corporations like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Pixar and other major organizations and leaders have provided hope to kids struggling with sexual orientation and gender identity.
View the Change.org petition to the Mariners started by Eric Williams, with live signature totals:
http://www.change.org/petitions/seattle-mariners-please-make-an-it-gets-better-video
Giants petition, started by Sean Chapin (with video):
http://www.change.org/petitions/ask-the-san-francisco-giants-to-make-an-it-gets-better-video
Cubs petition, started by Joe Hinton:
http://www.change.org/petitions/ask-the-chicago-cubs-to-make-an-it-gets-better-video-to-stop-bullying-of-glbtq
Red Sox petition, started by Sam Maden (12 years old):
http://www.change.org/petitions/boston-red-sox-please-make-an-it-gets-better-video
ESPN story on Sam Maden, who convinced the Red Sox to make an It Gets Better video:
http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/columns/story?columnist=edes_gordon&id=6628965
For more information on the It Gets Better Project:
www.itgetsbetter.org
Change.org is the world's fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 300,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.
