Antigay bullying prompts suicide

[Rick336]

From the Advocate:

The parents of Asher Brown, an eighth-grader who committed suicide last Thursday, say that their son killed himself in response to relentless antigay bullying at his Houston school.

Read article here --->http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_N...uston_Suicide/


Rick

[Daniel]

This is the second suicide in a week of a young man who was bullied and then took his life. It breaks the heart. Simply breaks the heart.

[Zerbie]

Oh no no no no no! Not another young man? Another?

This has got to stop. Is there an organization educating teachers and motivating teachers to stand against violent words and actions? Specifically in Houston, I mean? I taught high school in Houston once, and the anti-gay environment there was beyond awful. Sounds from this like it really hasn't changed yet.

[Rick336]

Is it no wonder that some LGBT Texans think they aren't worthy to live a happy life?

Here's what the Texas Republican party says about homosexuality:

1. "We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases."

2. "Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country's founders, and shared by the majority of Texans."

3. "Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable "alternative" lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should "family" be redefined to include homosexual "couples."


Rick

[Zerbie]

Oh, I'm all TOO familiar with the Texas Republican stance on LGBT. Lived there for years. Taught at a TX high school. Believe me, you don't get much closer to anti-gay hatred than at TX schools, or so was my experience anyway.

Can anyone recommend a couple of excellent resources that are available in TX to educate/motivate teachers to stand up for students like Asher? I'm thinking of looking up GLSEN to see what they might offer.

But can anyone think of any other resource as well?

I've decided to write a letter to that school district and would like to include resource recommendations right in the letter.

When I lived in Houston, it didn't seem that there was much in the way of resources or organizations to counter the "I'm a big straight Texan and I hate gays" attitude. I imagine there must be something available now?

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Rick336

Is it no wonder that some LGBT Texans think they aren't worthy to live a happy life?

Here's what the Texas Republican party says about homosexuality:

1. "We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases."

2. "Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country's founders, and shared by the majority of Texans."

3. "Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable "alternative" lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should "family" be redefined to include homosexual "couples."


Rick

A big state with a small heart?

Shame on Texas.

[antiochian]

Originally Posted by Daniel

This is the second suicide in a week of a young man who was bullied and then took his life. It breaks the heart. Simply breaks the heart.

Make that three.

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2010/09/g...-gay-bullying/

May their souls rest in peace, and may America (and its schools!) wake up to the deadly reality of antigay bigotry.

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by antiochian

Make that three.

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2010/09/g...-gay-bullying/

May their souls rest in peace, and may America (and its schools!) wake up to the deadly reality of antigay bigotry.

These deaths are such a horrible tragedy. These children not only suffered torment, rejection, depression, and physical abuse, but they will never live out their lives and experience the challenges, achievements, and the simple joys of life that awaited them in their adulthood.

The education system has miserably failed here and they need to be held accountable. I encourage everyone to write a letter to the administrations of each of these schools expressing your anger at these senseless deaths.


Rick

[Zerbie]

We need to fix the schools. The schools need to monitor childrens' behavior and intervene when harassment occurs. Teachers and staff need to be educated and motivated to decry anti-gay speech as well as behaviors from their students. ALL of them, with unanimity. Other students need to band together and decry the behavior of these 'bullies.' They wouldn't do it so often and get such a rush if it caused them to be embarrassed by all their 'friends' looking at them as 'losers,' no? Their peers will be a huge part of changing this.

The schools and school districts need to dash their fears of "politics" and get to work protecting the basic safety of the students for whom they are responsible. And parents of bullies and those who perpetrate vicious, shaming acts and verbally harass other children need to get involved and raise their children! If they don't, they need to be held responsible in some way - mandatory education seminars and community service, perhaps?

I am writing letters to the Houston area school district about Asher's death, and urging them to provide training to their faculty/staff about anti-bullying and safe-schools programs. Please do the same! A dead child? I should think that would have their attention on the obvious fact that there IS a problem.

And if you have further suggestions for what we can do, please share them here. 3 dead children in one month? What the h*ll are teachers and school districts allowing to happen in these schools??

[Daniel]

But shame/invasion of privacy made him take his own life?

http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/...an_to_Suicide/

Do straight people kill themselves like this? I wonder about that. Makes me think that- even in the minds of gay people- being gay is still not Ok.

[Zerbie]

Just saw the link posted on facebook - was supposed to go lie down after a medical treatment, but thought I'd print my letters to Asher's school first. Then, saw these next tidbits.

I think it has to do with the youth of the suicide victims in all these cases - feeling trapped and not having enough time to see that things aren't always as bad as the moment. Invasion of privacy is inexcusable. Glad they are charging those who committed that crime. That's all that can be done, and one hopes the couple who broadcast someone else's intimate life will have learned the hard way.

All these incidents in a rash like this make me worry we are not getting a realistic, let alone a healthy, picture of the world to our little ones. There is no reason to let little kids grow up feeling that bad and that shamed. I can't imagine 13 year olds firing guns into their own skulls and tying nooses around their necks. Little children!

We are missing something. There is something we could be doing and should be doing that would prevent this, especially the school bullying which could be so much more easily controlled than the behavior of legal adults in college dorm rooms, as inexcusable as that incident also was.

What's the piece we're missing? Best Bill and I can figure, we need to get the politics and the fear of politics OUT of the schools and put childrens' safety first. This is their LIVES at stake.

[Rick336]

Today is Wednesday February 1st, 1967. Andy Green hung himself yesterday. Andy was a friend of mine in math class. He committed suicide at 6:20 p.m.

In memory of Andy Green
1951-1967









Rick

[Rick336]

"Gay bullying is taking the lives of our children – and you’re to blame"


From CNN News:

Justin Aaberg. Asher Brown. Billy Lucas. Seth Walsh. These are names you need to know.

The boys, each from different areas of the country – Minnesota, Texas, Indiana and California, respectively – all had bright futures. Justin loved to play the cello. Billy rode horses. Seth’s grandmother said he was fashionable and artistic.

But none of that matters now. All four of them are dead – and within days of one another – having committed suicide to escape bullying by their peers.


Read the rest of the article here--->http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-496958?hpt=Mid


Rick

[Zerbie]

My guess is that roughly a third of our population is too compassion-fatigued to take action on these matters and the other two thirds do not (or have run out of energy to) care very much. Doing nothing about anti-gay harassment was sort of the way things were when I taught in Houston schools.

I've sent letters to officials throughout the Cypress Fairbanks school district and to Asher's school. It takes quite a bit of time and digging to get all the names, titles, and addresses lined up to address correspondence. If anyone else plans to send letters (I actually mailed them snail mail,) and would like me to do so, I can post the names and addresses of counselors, behavior management directors, etc., within Asher's school district. Or you can dig around the internet - they're there, just takes a bit of persistent clicking.

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

My guess is that roughly a third of our population is too compassion-fatigued to take action on these matters and the other two thirds do not (or have run out of energy to) care very much. Doing nothing about anti-gay harassment was sort of the way things were when I taught in Houston schools.

I've sent letters to officials throughout the Cypress Fairbanks school district and to Asher's school. It takes quite a bit of time and digging to get all the names, titles, and addresses lined up to address correspondence. If anyone else plans to send letters (I actually mailed them snail mail,) and would like me to do so, I can post the names and addresses of counselors, behavior management directors, etc., within Asher's school district. Or you can dig around the internet - they're there, just takes a bit of persistent clicking.

Zerbie,

I sent a letter to Asher's school but not to any particular official in the Cypress Fairbanks school district. If you have the addresses, please post them here so that those of us who want to express our frustration to the district officials about this senseless death can do so.

Thanks,
Rick

[HELENz]

These really saddened me. I've heard about five in September! FIVE! How many have gone unreported? We'll never know.

When will people wake up? When will they see what they're doing?

[antiochian]

Six gay teen suicides in our country in one month (that we know of). God, help us.

A quote from the Dalai Lama really puts this all in perspective:

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive."

To think that these kids died feeling unloved because of who they were... Had someone stood up for these kids, showed them compassion, perhaps they would still be here.

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by HELENz

These really saddened me. I've heard about five in September! FIVE! How many have gone unreported? We'll never know.

When will people wake up? When will they see what they're doing?

Originally Posted by antiochian

Six gay teen suicides in our country in one month (that we know of). God, help us.

A quote from the Dalai Lama really puts this all in perspective:

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive."

To think that these kids died feeling unloved because of who they were... Had someone stood up for these kids, showed them compassion, perhaps they would still be here.

People will not wake up unless we stick with this -- get word out and DO something. People are afraid to stand up for gays, even kids. Teachers are too afraid to, or too overwhelmed, their communities aren't demanding it, WE aren't demanding it.

WE are the ones who these kids need as advocates for their health, safety, and survival. We need to stay on this.

Please send letters to the school districts, to your kids' teachers, to the editor.

Can we mobilize people to convene at school board meetings and demand protection for our children?

What else? Let's brainstorm.

[bnmoore]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

People will not wake up unless we stick with this -- get word out and DO something. People are afraid to stand up for gays, even kids. Teachers are too afraid to, or too overwhelmed, their communities aren't demanding it, WE aren't demanding it.

WE are the ones who these kids need as advocates for their health, safety, and survival. We need to stay on this.

Please send letters to the school districts, to your kids' teachers, to the editor.

Can we mobilize people to convene at school board meetings and demand protection for our children?

What else? Let's brainstorm.

Are you familiar with Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" YouTube channel that started recently? I've been pleasantly surprised by some of the allies that have participated.

[Zerbie]

Yes, it's a good idea. If it will reach many young ones, I don't know.

What stymies me is, what will it take from us to start changing the environment for our kids? Our school districts need to stop being cowed by the foolish of politics that leave children in danger.

I'm glad these videos are out there and hope to see more. At the same time, I don't believe "hang in there" can possibly accomplish enough on its own without real change also occurring in the everyday world these kids face. These kids can't change their environment by themselves. That is up to every single one of us. As adults, we are capable of being responsible for the environment we create around us, and we can help encourage other adults to express their care and concern in their own ways, too. The entire community needs to rally round our kids.