Never Forget!

I was contemplating on writing a blog regarding the comments of the Imam from NYC who want's to build the cultural center, that he made on his 60 minutes interview (I think it was 60 Minutes).  But then I noticed, like everyone else yesterday, the shocking number of suicides of young people attributed to anti-gay bullying.  And my heart wept.

There are a lot of people involved in this now, but I think that they aren't doing justice for those who have needlessly lost their lives due to other people's hatred and intolerance, and still other people's unwillingness to stand up for what is right and put a stop to this.  So in this blog, I will remember (and post links) to all who have taken their own lives due to bullying.


Seth Walsh - California.

Tyler Clemente - New Jersey

Billy Lucas - Indiana

Cody Barker - Wisconsin

Asher Brown - Texas

Raymond Chase - Rhode Island

Caleb Nolt - Indiana (From information I could gather, Caleb was not gay, but was bullied for others' perception of his orientation)

Justin Aaberg - Minnesota (apparently after fact checking he died in July, but he still counts!)


I post these links as a reminder that it took 6 senseless deaths for anyone to notice.  It took 6 deaths before anyone spoke up, myself included.  It took 6 deaths and not one major new network bothered to do a story.  6 deaths later, and we're still not addressing the problem.

Look at the number of places in the list.  It's not just some isolated incident.  This is a nationwide epidemic of hate, intolerance, viciousness, and inaction.  It crosses all state lines and geographical boundaries to infect our children. And the lives of children who's potential will never be known is the cost.

People are worried about gay marriage, and the gay agenda.  That it will infect the schools and somehow warp the values of children making them view gay as okay.  But what people (adults) fail to realize is that the "gay agenda" is already alive and well in schools.  It lives in the children who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and allies.  They are the ones pushing for GSA's in schools, and fighting for their own rights to be safe and un-accosted at school for being themselves. 

But for every child that stands up for what is right, and pushes for equality in the world of education, it seems that we have more needless death because there are those who become so overwhelmed by the hate that seems to pervade this country they they can do naught else but the most drastic.  They don't see a way out, they see no one to confide in, they don't realize that it will get better, eventually.

Nobody should have to wait for this to end.  6 deaths in 18 days in the month of September alone.  6 deaths before anyone paid serious attention.  Maybe it's time we did something more?

Update: I found this link which has a larger list of deaths due to anti-gay bullying than I could find.