PLEASE WATCH! A message about the recent teen suicides

[rpmdfw]

This issue has really done a number on me. It's brought back a lot of painful feelings and memories.

It's been 22 years since I tried to kill myself because I thought I could never be happy; but there are still some very raw nerves. Interestingly enough, I'm more angry about these issues now; whereas I was just overwhelmiingly depressed by them then.

I blogged about it today. It was tough, but I hope that what I say may help someone else.

I'm not going to link to the blog because I use some not so DIS approved language.

But I did post a link to my blog post about my favorite books in the "best book I've ever read" thread. Shouldn't be too terrible to find it . . .

 

[OrlandoMike]

Hillary Clinton......


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXBpW8GCDtY

 

[wallyb]

Hillary Clinton......


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXBpW8GCDtY

I really wanted her for Pres.
Think she would of kicked ***!

 

[zeitzeuge]

This issue has really done a number on me. It's brought back a lot of painful feelings and memories.

It's been 22 years since I tried to kill myself because I thought I could never be happy; but there are still some very raw nerves. Interestingly enough, I'm more angry about these issues now; whereas I was just overwhelmiingly depressed by them then.

I blogged about it today. It was tough, but I hope that what I say may help someone else.

I'm not going to link to the blog because I use some not so DIS approved language.

But I did post a link to my blog post about my favorite books in the "best book I've ever read" thread. Shouldn't be too terrible to find it . . .

I'm sorry for how hard this is all hitting you Rob, and what you've gone through.

This issue is hitting close to home for so many of us. I think we all can relate on some level with these kids. Yet, I don't know how kids today deal with it. We didn't have the internet and all that goes with it, back when I was growing up. The bullying stayed within the school grounds mostly so going home was an escape. Then I eventually learned how to escape it while at school by hiding out in the Art department during open periods, avoiding dances, games, etc. I basically hid throughout my school years until I got to College. By then, I didn't care what anyone thought of me.

What these kids are going through just breaks my heart.

 

[rpmdfw]

I'm sorry for how hard this is all hitting you Rob, and what you've gone through.

This issue is hitting close to home for so many of us. I think we all can relate on some level with these kids. Yet, I don't know how kids today deal with it. We didn't have the internet and all that goes with it, back when I was growing up. The bullying stayed within the school grounds mostly so going home was an escape. Then I eventually learned how to escape it while at school by hiding out in the Art department during open periods, avoiding dances, games, etc. I basically hid throughout my school years until I got to College. By then, I didn't care what anyone thought of me.

What these kids are going through just breaks my heart.

See, I hid too. But in a completely different way. I was a perfectionist. Class President, Honor Society, Debate Team, Drama Club, on the "Advisory Board" for a local teen organization, and Treasurer for our Boy Scout Troop. I wasn't ever bullied, but as I mention in my blog post, I interalized all of the homophobic stuff that was being thrown around and used it against myself. I pretty much bullied myself; all while putting on as "perfect" a facade as I could manage.

I've had a LOT of people read that blog post and email me that they're shocked to hear it, because I always seemed like I was so "together" in high school. They saw me as popular, fun loving, and ambitious. I spent those years contemplating suicide. It's not just the unpopular, bullied kids that are at risk. Bullying is just the tip of the iceberg. The symptom of the real problem. Society views us as second class citizens, and discriminates against us. Until that stops, how are gay kids ever going to have positive self images? How are straight kids going to know it's unacceptable to marginalize us as long as our government does?

 

[npmommie]

This issue has really done a number on me. It's brought back a lot of painful feelings and memories.

It's been 22 years since I tried to kill myself because I thought I could never be happy; but there are still some very raw nerves. Interestingly enough, I'm more angry about these issues now; whereas I was just overwhelmiingly depressed by them then.

I blogged about it today. It was tough, but I hope that what I say may help someone else.

I'm not going to link to the blog because I use some not so DIS approved language.

But I did post a link to my blog post about my favorite books in the "best book I've ever read" thread. Shouldn't be too terrible to find it . . .

 

[wallyb]

I once read an interesting article about - Pack Mentality-
basically how People, in general, will do things in a group
they would not do alone how the group Amplifies the behaviors.
Wonder how this factors into all this?

 

[C&G'sMama]

I once read an interesting article about - Pack Mentality-
basically how People, in general, will do things in a group
they would not do alone how the group Amplifies the behaviors.
Wonder how this factors into all this?

Absolutely. Especially young people. The big thing is to knock out the Queen Bees and Pack Leaders that are spreading the hate and replacing them with youth "leaders". And that's not easy to do. But the more we can educate "our" children, hopefully it'll spread. My DD is constantly being picked on by one girl in particular at school because DD won't fold and doesn't put up with her BS, hopefully she can stay strong enough as she gets older and be a group leader.

When I first of heard of these gay youth, the young woman in Massachusetts that killed herself last year because of relentess bullying over a boy came to mind, it's nuts and so so sad.

 

[DisneyOrange]

My heart goes out to this man's family. People need to step up and not be so cruel.

 

[wallyb]

Ever wish you were not gay?

I can honestly say - I was bullied, picked on, ostracized, picked last, even roughed up -
and yeah, I had my down days, and my own way of coping -
but I never once thought - "Gee, I wish I was not gay".

Gay people are a gift!
Get to know one of us!
You'll be glad you did!

 

[C&G'sMama]

Ever wish you were not gay?

I can honestly say - I was bullied, picked on, ostracized, picked last, even roughed up -
and yeah, I had my down days, and my own way of coping -
but I never once thought - "Gee, I wish I was not gay".

Gay people are a gift!
Get to know one of us!
You'll be glad you did!

Nicely Put Wally

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I really wanted her for Pres.
Think she would of kicked ***!

Uh oh, Walter... I did too! (Still have the shirt)!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Ever wish you were not gay?

I can honestly say - I was bullied, picked on, ostracized, picked last, even roughed up -
and yeah, I had my down days, and my own way of coping -
but I never once thought - "Gee, I wish I was not gay".

Gay people are a gift!
Get to know one of us!
You'll be glad you did!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Rob, your points are absolutely spot on. The bullying is a crude manifestation of society as a whole. If it's generally acceptable to call a kid fat, then it will be done.

If the government forces people to lie about who they truly are in order to be able to serve their country, then public ridicule about being gay will continue to be socially acceptable.

If people continue to think that kids are killing themselves not because of bullying but because of despair at being gay then GET RID OF THE DESPAIR and send the message that each person is JUST FINE the way s/he is! Gay, not gay, fat, not fat, person of color, new immigrant, child of immigrants... WHATEVER.

Until it becomes as wrong to call someone a f *ggot as it is to call someone a ni**** the bullying (and social acceptance of spewing hatred) will continue.

Work on the core issues and you just may see the crude factors cure themselves.

 

[Scampi]

I do feeled spoiled to be living in Massachusetts and attending a Church that welcomes the LBGT community. I forget that there is still so much to do.

 

[wallyb]

I do feeled spoiled to be living in Massachusetts and attending a Church that welcomes the LBGT community. I forget that there is still so much to do.

Yeah MA - and New England in general -
will give you a rarified perspective of Gay issues.
Everyone Come on UP!

 

[C&G'sMama]

Yeah MA - and New England in general -
will give you a rarified perspective of Gay issues.
Everyone Come on UP!

Hey Wally, we'll be there on Thursday, we'll stop in and leave the kids in the trunk (I mean at their aunt and uncle's).

New York is a good place to be too. However we are holding out on getting married until NY allows it (even better at a federal level). We're only about 1 1/2 hours from Canada and maybe 4 hours from the MA border but we want to do it here.

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

I really wanted her for Pres.
Think she would of kicked ***!

What he said.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I can honestly say - I was bullied, picked on, ostracized, picked last, even roughed up -
and yeah, I had my down days, and my own way of coping -
but I never once thought - "Gee, I wish I was not gay".

Gay people are a gift!
Get to know one of us!
You'll be glad you did!

Amen Brother!

This duet had me in tears!

For you young folks.....HANG IN THERE! It does get better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeMBiz58ot4

 

[wallyb]

Amen Brother!

This duet had me in tears!

For you young folks.....HANG IN THERE! It does get better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeMBiz58ot4

Mike - ever see this one?
Love Bettye LaVette
Amazing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJi6maTueSc&feature=related