13-year-old gay bullying victim Asher Brown shot himself on September 23rd after enduring endless tormenting at school, which was ignored by administrators and teachers despite the parents’ repeated complaints to the school about bullying.Autostraddle — Gay Teens Continue Getting Bullied, Committing Suicide: Seth Walsh, 13 and Tyler Clementi, 18, September’s Latest Victims
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13-year-old Seth Walsh, a gay California teen, has died after being taken off life support yesterday. Walsh attempted suicide on September 19th by hanging himself from a tree in his backyard; he had also endured relentless bullying for his homosexuality.
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Today’s story is about an 18-year-old Rutgers freshman, Tyler Clementi, who [committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after being bullied by his college roommate].
This is what happens when schools and universities don't take sexual orientation harassment and discrimination seriously.
On a more hopeful note, the It Gets Better project hopes to reach out to LGBT youth:
Gay kids are four times more likely that straight kids to commit suicide, according to a recent study, and nine out of 10 gay kids report being bullied.Dan Savage on the 'It Gets Better' Project -- World News Conversation - ABC News
"Hearing about these kids that have committed suicide, the reaction as a gay adult is always, 'God, I wish I could have talked to them for fifteen minutes or five minutes and told them it gets better,'" said gay columnist Dan Savage.
The It Gets Better project provides a space for LGBT adults, some famous, others not, to upload YouTube videos in order to encourage and comfort LGBT youth who are having a hard time in school, in church, or at home because of their sexual orientation.
Gah. I'm crying. Nothing has made me want to be a teacher more than knowing that I could start making it better for one of my students the moment they walk into my classroom. High school doesn't have to be hell. At least in my classroom it won't be.
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