Another Gay Teen Commits Suicide

Yet another gay teen has committed suicide.  Raymond Chase, a student at Johnson & Wales in Providence, RI, was found hanging in his dorm room last Wednesday.  The death of the 19 year old culinary student follows those of Asher Brown, Billy Lucas, Seth Walsh and Tyler Clementi.

The Human Rights Campaign and Campus Pride are both demanding that action be taken nationwide to address the bullying of gay teens.  In a statement today, Shane Windmeyer, the founder of Campus Pride, said,

 “The suicide of this openly gay young man is for reasons currently unknown; however, the recent pattern of LGBT youth suicides is cause for grave concern. Campus Pride demands national action be taken to address youth bullying, harassment and the need for safety and inclusion for LGBT youth at colleges and universities across the country. We must not let these tragic deaths go unnoticed. Together we must act decisively to curb anti-LGBT bias incidents, harassment and acts of violence.”

 Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education, has released a statement within the last hour, saying in part,

"This is a moment where every one of us -- parents, teachers, students, elected officials, and all people of conscience -- needs to stand up and speak out against intolerance in all its forms.  Whether it's students harassing other students because of ethnicity, disability or religion; or an adult, public official harassing the President of the University of Michigan student body because he is gay, it is time we as a country said enough. No more. This must stop."

 The Trevor Project is asking for a national moment of silence for the five young men that have taken their own lives this month, and for the others that may have taken their lives without the world knowing of their sexual orientation or the torment they endured.  Please join me in observing this moment of silence at 8pm Eastern time.  ***If you or anyone you know is thinking about harming themselves, please call The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386.***  You can speak with a counselor who can relate to your experiences as someone who is LGBT.  They have been in your shoes.  They can help.  We can't continue to hear these stories in the news.  We cannot let the future of our community take their own lives.