Chicago Cubs to produce 'It Gets Better' video

The Chicago Cubs will become the second major sports team to create an “It Gets Better” as part of a campaign to prevent suicides among bullied LGBT teens. The San Francisco Giants released a video for the campaign last week.

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 the fall of 2010 in response to a spate of gay suicides.

“The Cubs applaud the Giants for their stand against anti-LGBT bullying. Bullying of anyone for any reason is unacceptable,” said Laura Ricketts, Cubs owner and board member. “We are proud to join the Giants in taking a stand against bullying and encourage other professional sports organizations to do the same.”

Ricketts (pictured), an out lesbian who serves on the board of directors of Lambda Legal, is the first openly gay owner of a Major League Baseball team.

The Cubs have a long history of support in the LGBT community. In 2010, Ricketts headlined the team’s float in Chicago’s annual Pride Parade. The now-defunct Chicago Free Press began hosting an annual Out at the Ballgame event at Wrigley Field a decade ago.

Recent Cubs’ donations have supported Cubs Care Courts, the gymnasium at Lake View’s Center on Halsted ($30,000 in 2011) and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ($50,000 in 2009) as well as many other organizations serving the LGBT community.