What we need

[Zerbie]

We need a coordinated national response to the recent string of teen suicides. Remember when Prop 8 passed how there were coordinated public demonstrations in so many cities across the country? We need that again.

We need tens of thousands of people out for a national demonstration of mourning. Light candles at sunset. March slowly around our churches, our city halls, secretary of education offices, parks, whatever.

But that needs to happen. And then we need the same people to write and call the school boards and the superintendents and keep insisting on protecting our children until the school districts stop playing politics with our kids' lives and put measures in place and enforce them.

Can we make that happen?

[dsdrane]

I heard about this on the Episcopal website: Episcopal Cafe (http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/anglican_communion/the_suicides.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+episcopalcafe/lead+(The+Lead)&utm_content=Twitter).

A(n?) Unitarian Pastor is calling (http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/debra_w_haffner/2010/10/an_open_letter_to_religious_leaders_on_gay_youth_s uicides_its_time_to_act_out_loud.html) for all clergy to address the recent and horrific spate of gay, teen suicides. She did so in no less than the Washington Post:

"I'm hoping that next weekend from your pulpits you will come out with your support for GLBT youth and adults."

More needs to happen, obviously. BUT, considering (as this site knows all too well) religion is sadly the source of so much homophobia, it is especially necessary that clergy take a stand here.

Thankfully, we have some who are ready to do the right thing.

[dsdrane]

We need leaders other than clergy to address this.

I humbly suggest that our "fierce advocate" President also make a statement -- at the very fu#king least. Honoring his campaign promises about DOMA and DADT would be great also, but...baby steps....

[Zerbie]

I heard about this on the Episcopal website: Episcopal Cafe (http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/anglican_communion/the_suicides.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+episcopalcafe/lead+(The+Lead)&utm_content=Twitter).

A(n?) Unitarian Pastor is calling (http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/debra_w_haffner/2010/10/an_open_letter_to_religious_leaders_on_gay_youth_s uicides_its_time_to_act_out_loud.html) for all clergy to address the recent and horrific spate of gay, teen suicides. She did so in no less than the Washington Post:

"I'm hoping that next weekend from your pulpits you will come out with your support for GLBT youth and adults."

More needs to happen, obviously. BUT, considering (as this site knows all too well) religion is sadly the source of so much homophobia, it is especially necessary that clergy take a stand here.

Thankfully, we have some who are ready to do the right thing.

Good. This NEEDS to happen. Glad she got an op-ed printed in a widely circulating paper!

I hope like mad that many more pastors will heed those good words and speak out. At the same time, we need other leaders and those of us without any particular influence to all speak out and demand that this change. All of us must work at this from all our various positions, whatever they are.

I've been trying to get my voice heard. Wish me luck getting my letters to the editor printed. I suggest that everyone reading this also send letters, post to facebook, make videos for the It Gets Better Project, etc. Anything and everything you can think of.

You're right, David, we do need national leaders to speak out on this and it's shameful that none has.

I was going to write to Obama. I may still.
So far, instead I have written to Dr. Jill Biden (30 years in education and still actively teaching,) and to Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. I have asked them to please stand up and speak out for gay kids. I am hoping that one of them will in fact be 'on board' with this message. Let's pray so!

Anyway - you might consider contacting them about your concern, too. It would be great if they heard from thousands of us about this.

[Tallit]

"A Unitarian". When a noun begins with a long "u" it is preceeded by an "a".