Tyler Clementi, Brad Fuglei, Seth Walsh, Raymond Chase, Jamie Hubley, Ryan Halligan, Jamey Rodemeyer, Billy Lucas, Asher Brown, Justin Aaberg, Cody Barker, Harrison Brown, Caleb Nolt, Chantal Dube.
The 14 teens listed above are all dead – not as a result of disease or accident. They committed suicide.
Each did so as a result of the severe harassment they endured which has become such an acute epidemic that it has garnered itself its very own genre: gay bullying. The passing of National Coming Out Day has inspired remembrance of the surplus of suicides that has occurred over the past ten years.
Perpetrators of this atrocious style of torment choose to do so in their own creative ways,: posting anti-gay slurs online, ostracizing classmates at school and video-recording the sexual exploits of their homosexual roommates to share with the public.
Recently, 15-year-old Jamie Hubley, a Canadian teen, committed suicide after being bullied as the single openly gay student at his school. The following is an excerpt from his final blog:
“I don’t want my parents to think this is their fault either… I love my mom and dad : ) It’s just too hard. I don’t want to wait 3 more years, this hurts too much. How do you even know it will get better? It’s not …. Remember me as a Unicorn :3 x) Maybe in my next life I’ll be a flying squirrel 😀 I’ll fly away.”
Hubley was a hero; he was brave enough to share with his peers a very personal preference. As a result, he was harassed to the point that he didn’t want to live anymore.
The word “bullying” doesn’t cut it anymore – this torment has evolved to be a very slow form of murder.
“Teenagers who are gay or bisexual are more than three times as likely to attempt suicide as other youth,” according to a study from The Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.
We’re looking at a deadly epidemic, if every single one of us doesn’t take action.
It’s tempting to blame certain groups or organizations for sponsoring and teaching the hatred that leads to this bullying.
Instead, The Inquirer would like to remember the kids who felt no support while reminding the rest that there are millions of people who believe in a person’s right to freedom.
Encourage homosexual classmates to feel comfortable and stable coming to school, as many haven’t in the past.
In September 2011, the New York Times reported on Jamey Rodemeyer, another teen who committed suicide after “constant taunting from the same people over and over.”
Furthermore, he had previously posted a video online as a part of the “It Gets Better” campaign.
Through the project, members and supporters of the LGBT community send messages “to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach – if they can just get through their teen years,” according to its website.
A recent LA Times article reported that actor Zachary Quinto came out in response to Rodemeyer’s death.
“In light of Jamey’s death — it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality,” Quinto said.
A strong, positive attitude or the latest celebrity coming-out statement is not enough. Everyone in the DVC community needs to help create a hate-free campus to contribute to a hate-free world.
The Queer Straight Alliance of DVC is one group that not only provides a safe place for the LGBT community to foster support but encourages members of any sexual orientation to take part.
If you see someone bullying someone else, speak up. The only thing you have to lose is the life of a classmate, friend or family member.