Since the tragic suicide of college freshman Tyler Clementi after being publicly shamed and humiliated when his roommate broadcast a sexual encounter he had with another man, the mainstream media and the Internet have been pouring out story after story about other recent suicides of other gay youths, one as young as eleven years old. The common thread has been the issue of bullying in schools, colleges, and, for that matter, everyday life.
Teens and pre-teens who realize that they are gay are immediately put into a state of fear. A fear born out of the other realization that being gay means they will face the approbation of their churches and synagogues, the taunting and harassment from their classmates and peers, and the ultimate fear which is that their parents will reject them. Is it any wonder that so many LGBT youths have considered or even attempted suicide? And will the Tyler Clementi's tragedy be the turning point? If history holds true, I doubt it.
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