Sen. Franken recently joined 12 of his Senate colleagues in a video for the It Gets Better Project, an internet campaign to reach out to LGBT youth to let them know that there are people who are fighting for them and that life gets better after high school. Earlier this year, Sen. Franken introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act to help stop anti-gay bullying in schools.

Every day, students who are (or are perceived to be) lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are subjected to pervasive discrimination, including harassment, bullying, and violence.

A recent survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network shows that the majority of gay students in Minnesota have been verbally harassed in school and "one in five has been punched, kicked or violently injured over sexual orientation."

This harassment and violent abuse contributes to their high rates of absenteeism, academic underachievement, and even higher rates of suicide. Shockingly, more than one-third of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth have attempted suicide.

Sen. Franken is working to end anti-gay bullying. His floor speech on the Student Non-Discrimination Act can be found here and an earlier video he recorded for the It Gets Better Project can be found here.