Joel Burns

Joel Burns – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Joel Burns is an American politician known for his emotional 2010 “It Gets Better” speech and advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth. This article explores his early life, political career, legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Joel Burns (born February 4, 1969) is an American politician and public speaker, best known for his service on the Fort Worth, Texas, City Council and for delivering a viral speech in 2010 addressing teen suicide and bullying in LGBTQ+ communities.

His message of hope, “It Gets Better,” resonated far beyond his city, touching lives around the world and cementing Burns’s place as a courageous voice for marginalized youth. In this article, we will explore his life, career, philosophy, legacy, and memorable sayings.

Early Life and Family

Joel Burns was born on February 4, 1969, in Fort Worth, Texas. Methodist upbringing was formative in shaping his values and interest in public service.

His parents were “apolitical” in the sense that they did not publicly engage in politics (no bumper stickers, no yard signs), which he once remarked as a contrast to his own later life in public office.

Though little is documented about his immediate family life, Burns has publicly spoken about personal struggle, especially during his adolescence, including experiences with bullying and internal conflict over his sexual orientation.

Youth and Education

Joel Burns grew up in Texas and attended Texas Wesleyan University.

Beyond his undergraduate education, Burns later pursued professional development in public administration. In 2010, he completed a program for senior executives in state and local government at Harvard’s Kennedy School as part of a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellowship.

In 2014, he announced his intention to resign from the Fort Worth City Council to pursue a Master in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School, and he earned that degree in 2015.

Political Career and Achievements

Entry into the Fort Worth City Council

Burns first entered elected office in 2007, winning a special election to represent District 9 on the Fort Worth City Council.

He was re-elected in subsequent municipal elections and served until July 15, 2014.

Burns’s committees included the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, Economic and Community Development Committee, and Infrastructure and Transportation Committee.

Importantly, when he was first elected, Burns became the first openly gay person elected to political office in Tarrant County (which includes Fort Worth).

Advocacy and the “It Gets Better” Speech

Burns gained international attention in October 2010 when he delivered a heartfelt speech at a Fort Worth City Council meeting about suicide, bullying, and LGBTQ+ youth.

His goal was to speak directly to young people feeling isolated or suicidal, delivering a message of hope: that life can improve and that they deserve to live.

In the speech, Burns said:

“You will get out of that high school, and you will never have to deal with those jerks again if you don’t want to. You will find and you will make new friends who will understand you. And life will get so, so, so much better.”

He also revealed that during the speech, he realized his parents were likely watching, and he phoned his mother mid-speech to tell her about his struggles with suicidal thoughts, eliciting an emotional response.

That speech significantly raised Burn’s national profile and solidified his role as an advocate for LGBTQ+ youth.

Later Years and Transition

On February 11, 2014, Burns announced his decision to resign from the city council to focus on his studies in public administration at Harvard.

Following his departure, a special election was held, culminating in the election of Ann Zadeh in June 2014.

After completing his MPA in 2015, Burns has continued to give speeches and advocate on issues of bullying, equality, mental health, and social inclusion.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Burns’s 2010 speech came during a period when national attention around transgender rights, LGBT youth suicide, and bullying was gaining momentum, often framed through campaigns like It Gets Better. His address became a landmark moment in that movement.

• As the first openly gay elected official in Tarrant County, Burns’s election marked symbolic progress in regional politics in a conservative part of Texas.

• His intervention following the controversial 2009 Rainbow Lounge raid (a police raid of a gay bar in Fort Worth) also highlighted his commitment to LGBTQ+ rights locally. Burns affirmed that Fort Worth would not permit discriminatory behavior by law enforcement and proposed a liaison to the LGBTQ community in the city police department.

Legacy and Influence

Joel Burns’s influence stems less from legislative accomplishments and more from his moral voice and willingness to share vulnerability. His 2010 speech is widely credited with saving lives, inspiring young people, and contributing to broader conversations about bullying, mental health, and inclusion.

Many who told him afterward that they decided not to take their own life because they saw his words have testified to the power and reach of his message.

He continues to be invited as a keynote speaker, especially on subjects of resilience, equality, and mental wellness.

In the larger narrative of LGBTQ+ advocacy and mental health awareness, Burns stands as an example of how an individual in local public office can make a national impact through courage, authenticity, and empathy.

Personality and Talents

Joel Burns is often described as emotionally expressive, courageous, compassionate, and deeply empathetic. His willingness to share personal pain publicly suggests a character that values connection and healing.

He also brings intellect and policy understanding to his advocacy: his pursuit of an MPA and work on infrastructure, development, and community committees reflect a balanced combination of passion and competence.

His ability to translate personal narrative into public persuasion is a rare skill—converting vulnerability into leadership. His speeches often blend storytelling, sincerity, and calls to action.

Famous Quotes of Joel Burns

Joel Burns is less known for an extensive corpus of quotations, but several of his lines have been widely shared, particularly those tied to his emotional advocacy. Here are some notable ones:

• “It is never acceptable for us to be the cause of any child to feel unloved or worthless.”

• “Give yourself a chance to see how much better life will get. And it will get better.”

• “Coming out was painful, but life got so much better for me.”

• “My Methodist upbringing was very formative in my politics. I was born in 1969, and there was all this ecumenical ‘we’re in this together’ sensitivity that was part of the United Methodist Church in the 1970s.”

• “The fact that I’m on CNN today is something I never would have guessed as a 13-year-old – or any other age, for that matter.”

• “There are so many happy memories that will be made. You just have to live long enough to get to them.”

These quotes reflect his themes of hope, vulnerability, recovery, and moral purpose.

Lessons from Joel Burns

From Joel Burns’s life and work, we can draw several enduring lessons:

1. Vulnerability is strength. Burns’s willingness to reveal personal pain gave him moral authority to speak on mental health, bullying, and acceptance.

2. One person’s voice can ripple outward. A local city council speech reached millions and changed lives.

3. Hope is essential. His message centers on the idea that suffering does not have to last forever.

4. Bridging policy and empathy. Burns combined public service roles with human-centered advocacy.

5. Identity and representation matter. By serving as an openly gay public official, Burns helped widen the possibility space for others from marginalized groups to engage in civic life.

Conclusion

Joel Burns’s impact lies not in sweeping legislative legacies, but in the emotional and moral resonance of his actions. He showed how one person’s courage—told with authenticity and vulnerability—can spark hope, shift discourse, and influence lives far beyond one city.

His life is a reminder: when voice meets purpose, when story meets service, change is possible. Explore his speeches, revisit his quotes, and let the message of hope—“give yourself a chance”—remain ever relevant.