Author: Michelle Park
On Sept. 22, Tyler Clementi, a freshman from Rutgers University, jumped off Washington Bridge after his friend and roommate allegedly broadcast him having sexual intercourse with another man. Almost simultaneously, similarly tragic events occurred throughout the week: thirteen year-olds Seth Walsh and Asher Brown both committed suicide after each victim’s years of relentless harassment from homophobic classmates. The latter’s parents filed reports of their son’s change in mood and behavior and the school was notified of the bullying, but they claim that little was done to stop the incident. Although his sexual orientation was never publicly established, Billy Lucas, a 15 year-old in Indiana, was bullied simply because he was assumed to be gay. Consequently, on a Thursday morning in September, his mother found him dead inside their barn.
Even still, there are countless more suicides, bullyings and sexual harassment cases in the lives of gay and bisexual teens that go unreported. The issue that catalyzes such hatred, however, is not one limited specifically to homosexuals. This key problem stems from society’s reluctance to accept the fact that not everything or everyone works uniformly. And society’s attitude and action towards difference is perfectly portrayed through the string of gay suicides that have been publicized the past few weeks.
Bullying has always been a thorn in every society’s utopic visions. The need for school organizations and public events are evidence of bullying’s persistence. Such organizations preach the values of acceptance, implementing programs such as No Bully, which aims to do just what its title suggests. In addition, many remind children of the harm that comes along with any kind of abuse, and if it comes down to it, there are hotlines available for bullied students who feel there is nowhere else for them to turn.
Gay teens, however, face conflict not only with their peers, but also with the world. It is no longer a matter of callow and naive young students, but of religious dogmatic protests, and unfortunately, sometimes disagreeable parents. It is an obvious understatement to say that every student should feel safe in the scholarly environment they live in. How can students feel safe? How can society build and maintain the values to prevent harassment, bullying, and death? Luckily, there are programs similar to No Bully aimed specifically at gay youth, such as the Trevor Project, a non-profit started in 1998 after filmmakers writing a movie about a gay, suicidal teen named Trevor realized that there was no helpline for youths in similar positions. The existence of the Trevor Project proves that unfortunately, the torment of homosexual youths is not a new issue, despite the recent media attention.
The values and rights promised to us by our parents are going awry with the cries of those found dead. Gay suicide poses a potential threat to the progress of future generations. Hence, gay suicide awareness is the first step to a conscious, developing society.
Michelle Park is an undeclared first-year. She can be reached at mpark@oxy.edu.
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