New Zealand’s Mr Gay World Andreas Derleth has made an official video for the It Gets Better Project, telling his own story of coming to terms to his sexuality. The German-born New Zealander recalls feeling like he couldn’t talk to anyone. “Once I got the courage to talk to someone and open up, my life just turned around,” he says in the video, where he shares his experiences of finding love and travelling the world after he came out. “I feel it is important that young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people realise that life has so much to offer,” he tells GayNZ.com Daily News. “In a situation where you feel locked down by your own identity it can be very hard to see what great adventure and love life has in store for you. I know this because I have been there,” he says. “With making this video I'd like to encourage people to hang in there if they feel down and hopeless now. Seek help, talk to family and friends that earned your trust or call a free helpline - it gets better!” Derleth hopes our societies around the globe reach a state of acceptance one day where parents, family and friends, through what they say and the way they behave, give enough trust to their (undercover) GLBT children, friends and people around them to come to talk to them and open up, “ultimately enabling them to become a happy person and true friend,” he says. The video also features archival footage and a montage of photos from Auckland’s Big Gay Out, and pictures of Derleth and his civil union partner Tom Linn.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 1st July 2012 - 4:03pm