PLEASE WATCH! A message about the recent teen suicides

[Sassagoula Billy]

In light of the many (known) teen suicides as of late due to ever rampant homophobia, Ellen took a moment to address the subject on her show. Months ago, I kept wondering why no one in the GLBT media was arguing equal marriage rights for the sake of building a new normal for our children. An acceptance for the next generation that just because they were gay, they wouldn't be denied the same rights and privileges as everyone else. That they wouldn't be bullied or taunted or used as mirrors for someone else's own insecurities and repression.

I was extremely fortunate to have never encountered any of this growing up, and for that I am one of the lucky ones. So watch Ellen's message. There's finally someone with a daily platform on national television who isn't afraid to lift us all up.

Here's the link:
http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/09/an_important_message_from_ellen_about_bullying_0930.php

 

[C&G'sMama]

Thank you for posting. It's a sobering reminder of how much work is out there to be done.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I'm gonna stick this for a week or so...

I agree with Ellen... "This HAS to stop!!!"

I've also linked the Youtube version, it loaded faster for me...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br7nbQSIyhg

 

[wallyb]

Sad and Sickening.

 

[rpmdfw]

I also encourage everyone to search youtube for Dan Savage's "It Get's Better" campaign. And to spread the word about it.

It's a bunch of videos of GLBT people sharing their stories and letting young people know that as bad as it can be growing up gay, it gets a lot better.

Some of them are touching. But they're all hopeful.

And that's what the kids who are in crisis need: Hope.

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

Thanks for making this a sticky, this way it won't get lost in the shuffle.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Ladies and Gentlemen....

Miss Kathy Griffin............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu2JeZn1Uw0

 

[WDWFreak200]

I can't help but admire Kathy's work for the GLBT community. She is a true inspiration to all those who know of and love her.

 

[DVCajun]

Ladies and Gentlemen....

Miss Kathy Griffin............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu2JeZn1Uw0

That was AWESOME.

And she is sooooo right. Republican politicians who are haters, "Christian" leaders who spout hate in the name of God, they have blood on their hands. All of the bullying is simply the logical consequence of their well-publicized hatred. May God have mercy on them.

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

That was AWESOME.

And she is sooooo right. Republican politicians who are haters, "Christian" leaders who spout hate in the name of God, they have blood on their hands. All of the bullying is simply the logical consequence of their well-publicized hatred. May God have mercy on them.

Absolute yes.

Thanks for sharing this, Mike.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

Sometimes I see people come to this board because the person or a friend or a family member is looking for advice.

Hope this will help someone. I didn't see it posted anywhere else. Sorry if I missed it.

The Trevor Project ( http://www.thetrevorproject.org) is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) youth. Their confidential, toll-free hotline (the Trevor Lifeline ) is: 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-73867).

 

[postage stamp]

it gets better.

So moving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax96cghOnY4

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

One of my friends just posted this on FaceBook.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Postage Stamp,

I hope you dont mind, but I merged your thread with this one.

Such a strong message these people are sending! My hope is if some kid comes over here for help, he can watch these and feel at home!


And if you dont mind me adding...

Collin Farrell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pOoeo8o7QA&feature=related

and Neil Patrick Harris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Y52kD0G2c&feature=related

 

[zeitzeuge]

Our DFW Sisters group held a candle light vigil this past sunday night. Dallas hasn't been very good at this sort of things for quite a number of years, but we got the word out through flyers and FB and we ended up having about 100 people show up and we marched down Cedar Springs in silence with a police escort to a large monument that marks our corner streets. Many people walked out of the bars and joined the group as well. Once we got to the monument we had a prayer for those who have lost their lives due to Bullycide (the term they've given it) and read off the names of the ones who have died just in the past 30 days. The numbers were staggering. Almost 20 names were read. We then passed out information about The Trevor project.

People need to continue to get the message out that this bullying has to stop.

We plan on doing this until we see results.

 

[rpmdfw]

People need to continue to get the message out that this bullying has to stop.

It's not just the bullying that has to stop. It's the culture that allows "gay" to mean "stupid" or "lame". This is unacceptable, and very damaging to young people.

As long as GLBTQ people are afforded less than full equality, the message gets sent to our young people that gays are "not worthy". This will cause some to lash out against us (or those that are percieved to be like us); and it will cause those of us who are in a troubled time in our lives to believe that we are "not worthy" and potentially harm ourselves.

This goes SO FAR beyond just bullying.

We have to demand full equality for all Americans, and we have to demand it NOW! Every day that we are un-equal, more young people lose their lives. It's time for the GLBT community everywhere to stop accepting the "wait untiil later" tactics of those in power and move to the front of the bus.

Zeit, kudos to you and the Sisters. You do amazing work.

 

[zeitzeuge]

It's not just the bullying that has to stop. It's the culture that allows "gay" to mean "stupid" or "lame". This is unacceptable, and very damaging to young people.

As long as GLBTQ people are afforded less than full equality, the message gets sent to our young people that gays are "not worthy". This will cause some to lash out against us (or those that are percieved to be like us); and it will cause those of us who are in a troubled time in our lives to believe that we are "not worthy" and potentially harm ourselves.

This goes SO FAR beyond just bullying.

We have to demand full equality for all Americans, and we have to demand it NOW! Every day that we are un-equal, more young people lose their lives. It's time for the GLBT community everywhere to stop accepting the "wait untiil later" tactics of those in power and move to the front of the bus.

Zeit, kudos to you and the Sisters. You do amazing work.

Thanks Rob. We were surprised at the turnout and many in the community think it's a turning point for Dallas to get back to the activisim we had back in the 80's and 90's. We're going to push for some sort of vigil on a monthly basis and hopefully inspire others to do the same. It might seem like a simple thing to do, but it obviously had a big impact. Word spread quickly and before you know it, we had police escorts, coffee shop providing free coffee and Subway handed out free sandwiches. Response was overwhelming. Got a lot of press. If we continue to do this and encourage others, we can keep this issue in the forefront of peoples minds. Providing them with Trevor Project numbers as well so they have the means to provide youth some information.

One thing we pointed out during our Vigil, was that we not only named the GLBT students that have been affected by this, but EVERY student that have commited Bullycide in the last couple months. It's not just a GLBT issue.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

That's the Key, Mark. It's not just a gay community issue, it's an issue that transcends all "groups" all labels.

Yes, gay youth are easy targets but other kids are killing themselves too, as a direct result of being tormented on a daily basis.

Thank you for your work. We need more of you!

 

[postage stamp]

Postage Stamp,

I hope you dont mind, but I merged your thread with this one.

Such a strong message these people are sending! My hope is if some kid comes over here for help, he can watch these and feel at home!


And if you dont mind me adding...

Collin Farrell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pOoeo8o7QA&feature=related

and Neil Patrick Harris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Y52kD0G2c&feature=related

Of course I don't mind! It's sort of your job and stuff.

I just had to share that one. A friend of mine showed it to me. I'm not gay and I was just weeping.

I am so baffled by all of this bullying behavior. I guess I was SUPER fortunate that I went to an AMAZING high school where things like this just did not happen. I mean yeah, everyone took their lumps, but there was no systematic torture of certain people. I even asked three of my friends who were out in high school if they experienced anything like this and no one noticed or they kept it hidden. All of them said no, that they feel so fortunate that we grew up in an amazing place where they were allowed to be themselves without fear. It just breaks my heart for these kids because I KNOW that there are places for them where they can live without fear, they just have to get there.

ETA: It also makes me FURIOUS that they have to live in fear at all. It makes me almost physically ill to imagine something like this happening to one of my kids. It also makes me feel ill to imagine one of them doing it to someone else. OR even just allowing it to happen. I cannot FATHOM standing by and watching someone do this to another human being and saying nothing. THAT to me is the saddest part of all of it. Not the bullies themselves (they are bad enough) but the silent witnesses who stand by and do nothing.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The pathology of bullying is just bizarre. The witnesses would rather just walk away and not get involved because they are afraid of becoming targets.

DS has been bullied a couple of times, but nothing that got out of hand. And nothing recently. He had some issues with a kid in 7th grade. He says that particular kid doesn't bother him now, but the kid is still a huge troublemaker.