25 Years Of National Coming Out Day

I came out publicly four years ago today.  It was one of the greatest weights to be lifted from my chest.

Never be afraid to be yourself.  Pretending to be someone else takes a lot of energy that could be spent enjoying your life.

Watch President Obama's Speech To The Human Rights Campaign (Video)

Last night, President Obama spoke at the 15th Annual National Dinner of the Human Rights Campaign.  The Human Rights Campaign has been on the front lines of the battle field for LGBT rights in recent years, and the President's comments at last night's dinner were highly anticipated.  The most often asked question leading up to his speech was, "Would he officially endorse marriage equality?".

While I'll discuss the specifics of his speech in greater detail tomorrow, I thought I would post the video of it this evening for those who were interested in watching.  For some reason, the video and audio are out of sync.  I apologize.

Joe Solmonese, the President of the HRC, delivered a wonderful introduction to President Obama.  Obama, for his part, started things off on the right foot by saying,

"I also took a trip out to California last week, where I held some productive, bi-lateral talks with your leader: Lady Gaga.  She was wearing 16 inch heels.  She was eight feet tall!"  

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.

Join The Human Rights Campaign To Stop Bullying In Schools

As a kid, you could say I had the trifecta of reasons to be picked on.  I was fat, usually 6 inches taller and 60-70 pounds heavier than the other kids in my class.  I was a Jehovah's Witness, and I was different than the other straight boys.  I wasn't into sports.  I was into music and fashion.  When everyone else was in auto mechanics class, I was trying to get into cosmetology classes.

I wasn't sure about my sexual orientation until I was in my 20s.  In my teens, I thought I was straight.  Unfortunately, I cannot count how many times I was called "fag" or "faggot" by other kids in school.  I was beat up on a regular basis.  I was tormented.  It was if I was tortured.

For years, I contemplated suicide on a daily basis.  I thought it was the only way I could escape what I was going through.  That was 20 years ago.  Things got better.  I'm still here.  Sadly, I had friends that aren't with us any longer.  The harassment was just too much for them to take.

Things are just as bad for todays LGBT youth as they were when I was younger.  Kids can be mean, heartless and cruel.  Teachers turn a blind eye to what happens inside and outside their classroom.  Kids are dieing at an alarming rate.

Something has to change.  This must stop now.  The Human Rights Campaign has a petition being sent to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, demanding that all schools include gender identity and sexual orientation as part of their anti-bullying programs.  The current situation is unacceptable.  Please go to the link and sign this petition.  You can also get information on how to write an editorial letter to your local paper.

Get involved.  Help these kids.