VANCOUVER – An emotional video by gay and lesbian RCMP officers and civilian employees has been released with a message to young people that life does get better.

The nine-minute “It Gets Better” video features 20 participants who tell their stories about when they realized they were gay and how their friends and family reacted, ranging from open acceptance to harsh bullying in school.

The video was the brainchild of the Surrey RCMP’s youth unit and was filmed this past summer.

One officer recalls his mother crying when he told her he was leaving the priesthood because he was gay, while another recalls his family telling him it was “just a phase.”

But the participants say eventually it did get better, and they speak about the acceptance they now experience among their families and at work.

The It Gets Better campaign was launched by U.S. sex columnist Dan Savage in response to anti-gay bullying, and it has inspired videos from celebrities, politicians and everyday people.

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On the web: http://youtu.be/FJDvetmwaKg