In the past month five (that we know about) young men have killed themselves because of the harassment and bullying inflicted upon on them on school campuses. The youngest of the five was thirteen. Important to remember is that these young men did not kill themselves because they are gay but because of the way they were treated.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents regardless of sexual orientation. Factor in feeling different and being teased and bullied because of that difference and the risk of suicide goes through the roof. Lesbian/gay/bisexual//transgendered youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers.
The fact that children even think of killing themselves is terrifying. The reality that they do, indeed, kill themselves is beyond devastating. But that children take their own lives because of teasing and bulling should cause public outrage.
Suicide is preventable. You can help.
Visit http://www.thetrevorproject.org and find out how you can save a life.
These are the names of the five young men who took their lives:
On September 9, Billy Lucas a 15-year old from Greensburg, Indiana, hanged himself after a constant barrage of bullying at school. Two weeks later, Asher Brown 13, shot himself after coming out in his Houston suburb. On September 28, Seth Walsh died after spending a week on life support in Tehachapi, California. The 13-year-old hanged himself in his backyard after suffering relentless taunting and abuse at school. That same day, Tyler Clementi jumped to his death. And the very next day, Raymond Chase an openly gay 19-year-old at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, hanged himself in his dorm room.
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