In honor of the gay teens that have taken their lives due to the relentless bullying by their peers. While it's a tragedy when any child takes their own life for any reason, for us to sit by as a society and allow our children to be bullied to this extent is a travesty. To allow a certain subset of kids bear the brunt of bullying is a hate crime. We need to raise our children better. To be tolerant and compassionate. To understand that just because someone is different, it does not make them a punching bag. To know that their words are powerful and can be more harmful than any punch to the face or kick to the stomach. We need to set a better example too. In our local, state and federal governments. We need to show that it is not ok to treat a class of citizens as secondary or lesser than. We need to pass ENDA, over turn Don't Ask, Don't Tell (completely and finally), and repeal DOMA so that the LGBT citizens are no longer publicly bullied by the government. We need our schools to stick up for these kids and DO SOMETHING when parents call stating their gay son is being bullied before it is too late. We need to reach out to gay teens and let them know that there is hope, IT GETS BETTER. There are resources for them, like The Trevor Project, and if their families and communities don't support them, that they can find a new one that will.
I'm wearing purple today for
Billy Lucas (15) September 9, 2010. Indiana
Cody J. Barker (17) September 13, 2010. Wisconsin
Seth Walsh (13) September 19, 2010. California
Tyler Clementi (18) September 22, 2010. New Jersey
Asher Brown (13) September 23, 2010. Texas
Harrison Chase Brown (15) September, 25 2010. Colorado
Raymond Chase (19) September 29, 2010. Rhode Island
Felix Sacco (17) September 29, 2010. Massachusetts
Caleb Nolt (14) September 30, 2010. Indiana