It Got Better Featuring Ian McKellen | L/Studio Created by Lexus

Growing up in Northern England in the 1930s, being gay wasn’t just taboo - it was illegal. Sir Ian McKellen speaks about devoting his life to fighting for gay rights and how it felt coming out to the nation on public radio.
Executive Producers:
Dan Bucatinsky
Lisa Kudrow
Brian Pines
Dan Savage
SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/111mpM6
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It Got Better Season 3 | L/Studio Created by Lexus
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[@mikesalas7866]

"And I say when you knew that you weren't" perfect response. perfect.

[@LordFoxxyFoxington]

Hatred of gay people, or of anyone, says more about the person than the target,

[@carolynnstreater2391]

True there needs to be more love in the world and we need to let people be happy and to be who they are

[@accessdenied3350]

Well said

[@MrShedinthepeg]

I remember sex education in high school in the UK. When our teacher talked about the different type of relationships, she told us that she wasn't allowed to talk about gay relationships, and then proceeded to talk about them anyway. What a great teacher, she could have been fired for that but she refused to discriminate. It turns out that their were a few gay people in our class.

[@kaylndoward3315]

MrShed-in-the-peg ss

[@lr3521]

MrShed-in-the-peg Exactly what happened with my gay brother except the teacher refused to talk. My brother could have caught AIDS because of this stupid and unnecessary silence. Disgrace

[@beccastell6439]

Wonderful teacher! My mother was a teacher in that period and I wasn't told a thing. Had to deal with homophobic bullying, rape threats from boys in my class, my own sister finding out and outing me. All without support. Sadly, my family still don't support me to this day but to me Sir Ian is the gay uncle I always needed. I came out days after hearing him speak about Section 28. It doesn't always get easier but you get better at being tough.

[@beccastell6439]

@@lr3521 Agreed! Without being told why HIV was dangerous and with religious parents I became paranoid about sex. Even though I was a virgin til 23 I was terrified of HIV. And of course being sexually abused I could still have been in danger. In fact one older man threatened me he could have HIV. Section 28 meant I had no information on why I did not want to date boys. Horrifically I now know my parents deliberately stayed off the the topic and then pushed me into getting married to a man because "everyone has to marry sometime". In 2002! Horrific to think I was abused and coerced and felt as though not only did I have to say yes to men, I did not even know an absence of attraction to men was normal. By 2003 I had had a breakdown and I had no idea why except I was depressed. It was barbaric. Thankfully my husband grew up before Section 28 and his private school was open about such things. So once I finally met like minded people, he was the first person I came out to! He's my best friend and ally. Today I am out but still at risk of violence from my family. Unfortunately I am not alone. There is so much work for us to do for teenagers today and we must never let them bring back Section 28.

[@apokab6453]

Sir Ian is a wonderful man. Too bad he had to hide his real self for so long. I've just watched Adam's video too, another amazing,inspiring person. Great to see that slowly but surely, things are changing for gay people.

[@spidaminida]

I loved Stephen Fry's answer to the bullies "Ooh, don't touch me, you'll just turn me on"...

[@user-ed4pp5io6f]

pahahahahaha

[@ulrikeklement2625]

Even more in awe now of this beautiful, brave man! Thank you! I also want to mention that one of my sons (13) school mates came out to his whole class last year and all those kids just shrugged and asked what else was new. It DOES get better! For all of us!

[@princessthompson8100]

I cannot even imagine what it must have been like for him. What courage!!!

[@beccastell6439]

I'm related to an actor of his generation who talked about the era in an interview. Really, it must have been so difficult. I so wish I could have got a job in theatre, it makes that kind of thing much easier! Because even today some people can be difficult.

[@fifteenounces]

What an amazing, brave man. His story gives me courage to be myself.

[@jwalt8019]

I fell in love with him after seeing his film, "Gods and Monsters". This man is truly a class act.

[@DonnyWinter]

I love Ian McKellen so much

[@sethtrainer9436]

as do i

[@TheAlienne]

This man is an inspiration, I love listening to him talk.

[@christophernorton33]

Attitudes have changed but there are still pockets of resistance . The fight for freedom goes on .

[@Obstatic]

The quote "You just simply, one by one, had to change people's minds. And that can be done. And was done." at 6:28 is the "Veni vidi vici" moment of this video. I love it.

[@tyronebrown75]

this guy is a living LEGEND

[@theblanketstealer]

I didn't know he was gay. I've always admired Ian McKellen not just as an actor, but as a person. Now I love him even more.

[@kassandrafletcher3496]

Me too.

[@EntameWitchLulu]

i'm crying this series gives me so much hope, thank you Ian McKellen for contributing

[@its_all_golden]

Oh my god!!! I love Ian McKellen, he is literally the most amazing person ever.

[@KatalovesLinkinPark]

Great. Great, great, great. I love him, his attitude and this video.

[@KindredSpiritJosh]

Ian McKellan.....I love you! These words are so very inspiring for many of us who still struggle with accepting who we are.

[@beccastell6439]

Yep. It was hearing him talk about Section 28 that was my wakeup call 6 years ago!

[@nightlyoko626]

I teared up this man is amazing

[@MoCa1979Jr]

Very moving story. Ironically he played Magneto who suffered the same bigotry for being born a mutant. Now that's coming full circle.

[@Eva-uu6rd]

Amazing interview .My respect and admired for Si Ian McKellen

[@neilweston9268]

We in Slovakia are still stuck in the eighties with the thinking around sexuality, it is ridiculous...definitely not allowed into schools...at least kids understand more English and have access to the internet so can seek normality there.

[@OreoTime1]

"We don't have closets, we have covers" I love it and that was very well said by him. I'm not gay, but I do not discriminate because we are not all exactly the same and to each his own. Thanks for the great video. Cheers!

[@ari-gm1hc]

he's so amazing this is so inspiring

[@tasibho]

He was a looker too in his day. Wonderful man indeed.

[@springbearsinlove]

so inspirational!

[@lotuscrownrealm]

i love you gandalf

[@LazsalzariRomnzevroskki]

magneto

[@Foxy-qx4pd]

Growing up gay in the 50's in the north, like in the 30's was quite frightening and you had to be inventive to hide your sexuality. University was something I thought would be an opportunity to explore, but having been bullied quite expertly at school I could not shake off the diffidence and self-loathing. I buried myself in books to cope with the disappointment of my weakness and fear. So, I continue to live the lie. It does not always get better. We live in different times now and fortunately there is a wealth of support out there for young people who are finding it challenging to accept or experiencing negative attitudes.

[@astrius4125]

I'm so sad that so many people have had their lives stolen. It makes me so angry. Damn homophobia...

[@beccastell6439]

@Foxy Damn it! We have to change this! I was born in 1977 and so of course Section 28 came in just as I was starting secondary school. It was hell. I can relate to what the bullying does and the long shadow it casts. I had a little more confidence but not enough to realise who I was. Such a shame because I had marvellous gay and trans friends at university and a wonderful time. But yes, mostly in the library! And yes even in 1998 plenty of us had no idea who we were! But really. It is never ever too late. I had been married to a man for 11 years when I finally came out to myself in 2014. It must be especially hard feeling like it is too late but I don't know why it should be something only the young can do. Even if you never get to do certain things, you're bound to feel a little better. Yes, folk can be funny about late bloomers, but you'd be an absolute hero to middle aged folk like me who sometimes feel we must have failed if we didn't realise in these progressive days, neither earned our stripes in the time before decriminalisation nor came out early enough to keep our peers happy. Anyway, I'm right there with you. Everyone has a different story, some had family more closed minded than others, some live in rural areas, some are disabled or I'll with less opportunity to socialise. We should never feel that it is,we who have failed. Circumstances can be tough.

[@beccastell6439]

I have to hope Foxy sees our support. Because I am tired of seeing young people anxious or older people left out! We all deserve to be who we are!

[@jahnaroth669]

Just another reason to love you. thank you for exposing #28 thank you.

[@user-ed4pp5io6f]

watching after the election of you-know-who in the us. im not sure ive ever seen such a scary step backwards in progress in my lifetime or had anything other than things getting gradually better. this lets me see that so much can change for the better in a person's lifetime even if it does go backwards at times.

[@rrrrogahtaylah2636]

watching while waiting for the results of the second election

[@MsGlamLamb]

I love this so much!!!

[@englishhive5735]

Honesty to yourself is a fabulous idea !!!!

[@sisterpacifica]

Very insightful article...

[@poi04201998]

wow inspirational adore him!

[@andrewestes2600]

Of all the actors in the world, Sir Ian McKellen is hands down my FAVORITE!!! As a person and a actor I fell in love with him when I saw him the first time in X-Men

[@firstnamelastname7249]

This is beautiful and powerful.

[@Kaylee-fs3ss]

Love this

[@benw9949]

What an awesome guy. -- Oh, do I wish I could've heard someone so positive and sensible about being gay when I was struggling with it growing up. I would've been astonished.

[@beccastell6439]

So true!!!

[@teganmaharaj]

"You just simply one by one have to change peoples' minds. And that can be done. "

[@quericksly34]

Sir Ian McKellen is god. I could listen to him talk all day

[@sinaf.2866]

Phenomenal actor!

[@jpblack2148]

We also have Wardrobes and coming out of a wardrobe sounds fabulous

[@Theomite]

OPENING CREDITS. "How it got better? Well, I'm Ian McKellen, of course. That's how." END CREDITS.

[@andylee7883]

I knew it. I knew Magneto had something for Xavier.

[@AlejandroOlmedo]

Thank you Ian, you are a hero in my eyes!

[@tylerironside3915]

A man amid true substance and talent

[@elisabethsantos6362]

LA QUIERO EN ESPAÑOL GRACIAS

[@lr3521]

Good for you Ian. Sorry, Sir Ian. You’re a National treasure

[@bradbaker9510]

thank you!

[@HappyLuckyLooney]

Thank you.

[@marchshowers5364]

I absolutely love him

[@chenseler85]

WHO'S LAUGHING NOW LITTLE BOYS! :-)

[@nhuub2971]

Whats the music at 4:50?

[@nelly-nell7113]

[@danielewenkhare3600]

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

[@elizabeth9841]

my friends uncle dated him in university

[@beccastell6439]

I desperately want my one non homophobic relative to know I am gay. He just happens to be a former actor of Sir Ian's generation and a former Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre where Sir Ian first worked. I need to get a move on!

[@EDRIANPENGUINO]

Zaddy!

[@CaapriceTube1]

Why didn't they cast him in the movie Beginners (2010) instead of Christopher Plummer.

[@fb190]

I was thinking the exact same thing!

[@johnjohnson3709]

❤

[@JaneDoe-lq4en]

Sometimes he looks like Tom Hanks like @ 6:21

[@mochiboy7750]

I always forget older gay people exist or 'I wonder if he has a husband' and than they talk about losing all their friends to AIDS :( We have fought so hard.

[@alexkx8599]

Gandolf!!! Magneto!

[@bat5092]

Gus the theatre cat!!

[@marvelousTUD]

GANDALF IS AWESOME!!!

[@vinnyvincent13]

im from wigan and im also gay so I'm basically ian mckellen

[@danielewenkhare3600]

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💗 my fellow LGBTQ+🏳️‍🌈 sibling I’m gay and I thank my pioneers who’ve paved the way before me

[@will4195]

He has the longest damn ears!

[@sheldan-jayryan9147]

Yay 100th comment

[@bcount1]

I had no clue this guy is gay it blew my mind

[@accessdenied3350]

"protecting children" rubbish, it causes far more harm all those kids who have committed suicide because of stupid laws like that

[@kalisteau]

at the time you were "accused" of being gay... this is such a terrible word, hurtful...

[@GAbug81]

hope in 10 years or less people won't have to come out. It'll be a normal that is treated as any heterosexual leanings a person has.