Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner
says she's six-foot-eight of proof that it gets better.
The 22-year-old Griner, a former Baylor
center star who was twice named AP Player of the Year, on Wednesday
released a video for the It Gets Better Project, which encourages
bullied LGBT teens considering suicide to hang in there, because life
eventually gets better.
(Related: WNBA's
Brittney Griner comes out gay.)
“I'm walking proof right now that it
gets better,” Griner says in the 1-minute video. “Somebody that
grew up taller than everybody. A little bit different than
everybody. Always voiced my opinion on my sexuality and who I was.
As an individual, you know, I got teased. The big hands, the deep
voice, big feet, just I got teased. And it was hard growing up. But
you have to find an outlet. Basketball was my outlet.”
“No matter what anybody tells you or
picks on you or says 'you're different,' 'you're a freak.' No,
you're not. You are beautiful who you are.”
“Six-eight walking proof it gets
better,” Griner adds. (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)