With all the rightfully upset diaries and comments that have been streaming non-stop through DKos the past many months as we struggle to realize a Progressive agenda in DC, I have felt myself losing touch with a community that first ignited my political spark 7 years ago.
Today, however, with this diary, I have been reconnected in a powerful way, and I think it's important that we take stock for just a moment about what happened here today and what this says about what we can accomplish when we take a risk and reach out to each other on those things most important to us.
Some thoughts and a call to action below the fold.
I was incredibly touched by this diary about a woman's nephew who was outed at school and subsequently kicked out, who was rejected by his family (the diarist's sister and husband), and who is hopefully close to arriving at his aunt's home as I write this (if not already there). Florida4Obama found herself in a very difficult situation and took a risk, sharing her thoughts and concerns with this community. In response to her diary, the DKos community came through with countless offers of help, in the forms of lodging, legal aid, schooling, etc.
As a gay man who feared above all that coming out while at my Catholic high school would lead to my expulsion and impede my chances at finishing school with honors and going to the college of my choosing, I can relate all-too-well to the diarist's nephew's circumstances. I, however, had supportive parents, who loved me as I was, and I never had a need to run away.
Florida4Obama's nephew's circumstances mirror those of so many LGBT teenagers, a peer group that is far more likely (between 2 to 7 times more likely) to attempt suicide than its non-LGBT counterpart. That this particular young man chose to drive away from his unaccepting parents' home for 12 hours to his aunt's home is a remarkable choice that may have saved his life and will almost certainly improve his chances of success in life once he has made it through the current moment's struggle.
I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support that this community offered to Florida4Obama, whether through understanding of the challenge of her and her nephew's particular circumstances, or just because that is what people in this community do. It doesn't matter the reason, but it does matter that hopefully both the diarist and her nephew will be better off (quite literally) for the impact this community can have in their lives.
So, thank you DailyKos community. Thank you.
And for my call to action...
For those of you who are concerned about LGBT youth suicide prevention and want to give to an organization doing something about it, please give to The Trevor Project. It behooves all of us to understand and support efforts to address this very serious problem in all our communities, so please give, if you can.
[For the record, I am in no way affiliated with the Trevor Project. I just happen to know about them and want to throw in a call to action to support them here, as it feels very timely in this community.]