SAN FRANCISCO, CA — More than 7,000 sports fans have joined a local resident's campaign on Change.org inviting the San Francisco 49ers to become the first National Football League team to make an "It Gets Better" video against the bullying of gay youth, or those perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
Sean Chapin, who created the 49ers online petition campaign, previously inspired the San Francisco Giants baseball team to make an "It Gets Better" video through a campaign on Change.org . After more than 5,000 people joined Chapin's original campaign, the Giants became the first professional sports team to make an "It Gets Better" video. Now Chapin is asking his favorite football team to send a strong message to its young fans as well.
"The 49ers can do what the Giants did earlier this year, starting a movement within their sport to stand up against bullying and homophobia." said Chapin. "If the 49ers become the first NFL team to make an 'It Gets Better' video, they can inspire other football teams to reach out to their local communities as well."
After the Giants produced their video this summer, seven other baseball teams created "It Gets Better" videos of their own, including the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Chicago Cubs. No professional football teams have yet made videos of their own.
"Sean Chapin inspired eight baseball teams to make an "It Gets Better" video this summer when he asked the Giants to join the fight against homophobia and bullying," said Eden James, interim Chief Organizing Director at Change.org, the world's fastest-growing platform for social change. "Now, in just a few days, he's rallied 7,000 people around his campaign asking the 49ers to make a video. Change.org is about empowering anyone, anywhere to make a difference, and it's been incredible watching Sean's campaign take off."
Prospects for a potential video look promising. A spokesperson for the 49ers recently told San Francisco's CBS 5 news, "they have not officially received any kind of request to make a video, but if they do they will probably make one." Chapin's online petition campaign was also recently featured on KGO, ABC's affiliate in San Francisco.
More than 20,000 "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 their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Live signature totals from Sean Chapin's 49ers campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/49ers-please-make-an-it-gets-better-video
Contact information for petition signers in your area can be arranged upon request.
Sean Chapin's video to the 49ers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dESfQhR-fhE
Sean Chapin's San Francisco Giants campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/ask-the-san-francisco-giants-to-make-an-it-gets-better-video
Watch ABC-7's coverage of Sean Chapin's campaign:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dILx8ny6ays
Watch previous "It Gets Better" videos created by professional sports teams:
San Francisco Giants:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1TcD95kmGQ
Boston Red Sox:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOkWfueTNjk
Chicago Cubs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcpkRL_5IYk
Los Angeles Dodgers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX1EadNF9v0
For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world's fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.
