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A gay teen's Christie campaign

Student's viral video could rival governor's YouTube impact

15 comments

A gay teen's Christie campaign

POSTED: Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 5:58 PM

A New Jersey high school senior whose eloquent coming out video has gone viral is challenging Gov. Christie to outlaw "conversion" therapy for gay youth.

A Change.org petition originated by Jacob Rudolph, 18, of Parsippany, Morris County, urges the governor to support a bill prohibiting minors from "therapy" programs purported to change homosexuals into heterosexuals. More than 27,000 people have signed the petition so far.

Change.org issued a news release promoting the petition and the video -- which since January 21 has attracted more than 1.7 million hits on YouTube -- on Tuesday. The same day, the indefatigable media colossus in Christie's office unleashed another of its cinematic productions, this one a "teaser" for the governor's budget address.

(The Christie spot featured uplifting music and graphics; it looked rather like a teaser for an upcoming gubernatorial campaign commercial. But never mind...)

Rudolph's video was made with a single hand-held camera during a school assembly. It recorded the moment when the young man let several hundred classmates know that he is gay.

"I think the power of Jacob's video lies in storytelling," says Shareeza Bhola, communications manager for Change.org. "He's a successful high school senior who has a bright future, and he's sharing this story with the world."

By phone, Rudolph says his video has "authenticity" born of self-acceptance and the support of his family and friends. "That's what makes it so believable," he adds.

Kevin Riordan @ 5:58 PM Permalink | 15 comments

15 comments

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Comments (15)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:37 PM, 02/26/2013

If you believe in the GOD of The Bible, then you must understand that the homosexual lifestyle is an abomation in Gods eyes ( Just like many other sins ).He will forgive, just as he has forgiven me of my sins if we turn away from that sin. I pray that you and many others will do the same.

— ferina

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:15 AM, 02/27/2013

And to the 2/3's of American's who believe the Bible is nothing more than a series of fairytales string together, can we just believe that you are the one who actually needs conversion therapy?

— jonline

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:29 AM, 02/27/2013

Ok....see you on the other side!...oh wait, no I won't!!

— xsmokedoutx

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:04 AM, 02/27/2013

And if you believe God created everything and everyone and loves everything everyone, I won't see you there because you took what is meant to be a broad love and decided its only for a few. Simply put, your God sucks.

— jonline

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:39 AM, 02/27/2013

And you see the sad state of this country, right?

— xsmokedoutx

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:21 AM, 02/27/2013

you know in the bible it says you cannot wear clothes made of 2 different fabrics? Lev 19:19 [KJV] Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
and
dont forget slavery - because that same idiot that says its an abomination - says Lev 25:44 [KJV] Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. [NIV] Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.
so please if your gonna quote the bible - use the whole thing and not just the parts that suit your ignorant bigotry

— mikey5432

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:24 AM, 02/27/2013

CAN I POST MY STRAIGHT COMING OUT VIDEO TO SUCH APPLAUSE AND MEDIA ATTENTION?

— bkflyers10

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:14 AM, 02/27/2013

If "conversion therapy" is to be outlawed for gays, is it also outlawed for bisexuals?

— Mr. Smith

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:08 AM, 02/27/2013

hey bible lovers - do you cut your hair? eat shellfish? sleep in the same bed as a woman who is menstrating? have you sold your daughter into slavery? have you stoned you wife? do you wear clothes made of two different fabrics? do you do any work on sundays? do you shop on sundays? do you have a garden that you plant different veg next to each other? then you too are an abomination - read your bible and dont pick and choose - and fyi - ONLY GOD HAS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE, YOUR JUST A NARROW MINDED BIGOT.

— mikey5432

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:35 AM, 02/27/2013

Dude...please read the ENTIRE Bible before making your comments. Old Testament = people under the law New Testament= Christ fulfilled the Law and we now live under GRACE!!!

So stop being a bigot and narrow minded.

— xsmokedoutx

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:48 AM, 02/27/2013

ok - dude - fyi that whole abomination part is in the old testiment - not the new and there is still much debate on any part of the new that might be - this fairy tale was written hundreds of years ago by people who thought that the sun revolved around the earth and the earth was flat

— mikey5432

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:48 AM, 02/27/2013

I'm sure his classmates were shocked. This guy is so sweet, I almost got a cavity just looking at his picture. I'll finish with this: Aaahaa, he's gay.

— Howard Beale UBS

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:38 AM, 02/27/2013

What if a gay person WANTS to go through this therapy? Why can't they have a CHOICE? It seems this group of people are extremely narrow minded and only want it THEIR way, with no one allowed to choose for themselves!

— xsmokedoutx

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:04 PM, 03/11/2013

The "therapy" is a proven failure. The medical not political efficacy is what should preclude it from being supported by the state. Most of the "therapy" relies on the Christian Bible, which in itself should prevent it being supported any government agency.

— DwightinDC