IDENTITY

Hey guys.  Tomorrow (Wednesday, October 20), you can publicly show your support to the recent suicides by wearing something purple!  If you are unaware, there have been several losses in the LGBTQ community.  Many of these suicides were a result of homophobic bullying by these kid’s peers. 

“On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the seven gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months, many of them due to homophobic abuse in their homes or at their schools,” Brittany McMillan said. “Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality.”

We, as a community, need to show that we will not tolerate anymore losses.  These people could have been such great contributions to our society had they only have had the support they needed at the time they were being taunted and teased. 

Here is the list of suicides that I have found while researching:
Tyler Clementi; 18, Seth Walsh; 13, Justin Aaberg; 15, Raymond Chase; 19, Asher Brown; 13, Cody J. Barker; 17, Harrison Chase Brown; 15, Caleb Nolt, Billy Lucas, Jeanine Blanchette, and Chantal Dube. And the list goes on.

These are not just names.  These were human lives. 

This is a great opportunity to stand up and fight against bullying.  I’m well aware that wearing purple won’t bring these kids back, but it may just be what other youth need to get them through a tough spot in their own lives.  It sickens me to think that these bullies were able to hurt these kids so much to the point where it would drive them to kill themselves.  However, this is a wonderful chance to show how much our community truly cares.  Wear purple, or if you don’t have something purple, wear anything in remembrance of the lives lost. It’s the thought that counts!

—Mac