Gay bashing and bullying

[willrod]

With last week's death of 18 year old Tyler Clementi in New Jersey, who was secretly videotaped by his roommate having sex with another guy (and his roommate broadcast it online), the media seems to be picking up on the issue of bullying leading to suicide of gay teens. This is just the latest of several gay teens who've killed themselves after being constantly harassed, including Asher Brown and Seth Walsh, both age 13, and Billy Lucas, age 15. And of course, these are just the stories that get prominent media coverage. Who knows how many more of America's youth have done or attempted to commit suicide simply due to people's unwillingness to respect diversity? The frightening part of Clementi's suicide is that A. he was in college, which most people assume to be a pretty accepting environment, where chances of being harassed are low, and B. this didn't just happen face-to-face, but rather via the internet, where fewer people would hear about and intervene against such bullying.

What are your guys' thoughts on this? What do you think can be done to combat this problem? Any legislation that punishes people for cyber harassment based on sexual orientation? Any school policies (college or high school level) that you could think of that would help? And what's the situation like at your school- have you ever been harassed for being gay?

[Jagster]

Don't you wish you could just bitch slap all the homophobes?

[Syvelocin]

Of everything that I don't agree with, LGBT harrassment, lack of acceptance, and bullying is the one thing I will not tolerate. And I always make that clear to people. You simply have to be accepting of LGBTs to have any respect from me. You definitely don't have to partake, but we're people, and we have no control over it, just like the colour of your skin and the gender you were born as. I know that sounds a little extreme, but homophobia is just like racism and sexism.

I really think sexuality will unfold like sexism has and segregation has. LGBTs will never be fully accepted, which is sad, that I can't stop being afraid, and future generations can't stop being afraid, but I'm certain that it'll continue to be even more widely accepted. Every generation seems to become more open-minded, very slowly.

[PJay]

Every generation seems to become more open-minded, very slowly.
Totally agree.

I think some countries and some areas have some catching up to do. Law is one thing, but attitudes take a while to change I think. I'm out at school, and its not a deal at all for 99% of people, and although I think I am the youngest there are others in other years. My parents were worried because when they were at school it was completely different.

Ok I admit it wasn't perfect for about 6 months and I had some fights last year as a result it was with the same two dicks who thought they could say stuff to make themselves look big. I didn't realise I had a lot of support and like them I assumed there were a lot of haters who would back them up, so I started out by getting physical which got me into a bit of trouble, but in the end a lot of people started sticking up for me and I didn't have to. Now adays I'm pretty popular, I don't get disrespected by anyone and I can just be me, which is great.

So I think each time one more person comes out it makes it easier for the next person. Its sickening that people our age get hurt or lose their lives, but other minorities have had the same thing in history and their pain and deaths were what eventually caused the rest of society to change. Laws are just a start of that process I think.

[disassociation2016]

Wow, this is so sad. =(
People that bullied this poor soul should burn in hell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6_pj5qJbwY

[Syvelocin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br7nbQSIyhg

Sorry, I love everything that Ellen has to say :yes:

[willrod]

So very true- we've made a lot of progress, but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done. And I for one plan to fight to make things safer for other gay youth out there. Each and every person out there is beautiful and unique in their own way- we shouldn't be attacking people based on an essential part of who they are. Instead, we need to acknowledge our differences and embrace our commonality as human beings.

[Lifeguard18]

This is so sad. 8 deaths and one was 13 years old. I just hope the west boro baptist church doesn't get involved with all this. I hate those cunts so much. R.I.P. To all those who passed away. This something that needs to STOP!!!!

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[lengthy_brochure]

I have deleted the contents of this post

[willrod]

This is so sad. 8 deaths and one was 13 years old. I just hope the west boro baptist church doesn't get involved with all this. I hate those cunts so much. R.I.P. To all those who passed away. This something that needs to STOP!!!!

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I think if that ignorant mo-fo Fred Phelps tries to get in on this, there will be rioting in the streets. Already, nearly a quarter million people have spoken out on Facebook against what happened to Tyler Clementi, and the number keeps rising. Lord knows, if he shows up in any of these towns where this happened, he'll be running for the hills. I'm sure many people share my view, but I'm fed up with ignorant jerks like Fred Phelps who are trying to fan the flames of hatred against an oppressed group. To me this is no different than the civil rights movement of the 1960s- except, the sad part is, there's such a climate of fear that so many people would rather keep that part of themselves hidden to the outside world than to celebrate their uniqueness.

That's really what all of this is about- being exposed or thought of as gay, and being ridiculed for it. I'm sure many of us have been in that situation. And while it's easy to say just shrug it off, obviously these poor people reached the breaking point.

EDIT: I'm extremely glad that you failed, soaring- the rest of the world would have missed seeing what great contributions you can make to society. I'm also sure that your family would've missed you terribly. :(

[usernamelol]

i think getting "the 700 club" off the air will really help things. they spread the bullshit around sooooo much it's a wonder the fcc lets them even broadcast. i hope that within my lifetime people wise up and realize that being homophobic is a real dick thing to be. and don't stop at homophobia, i hope every bigoted view of the people is snuffed.

[Syvelocin]

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Sorry, again. A lot of my favorite celebs have actually been responding to this, and I think Kathy did better than even Ellen.

[phily08]

I fell very sad for him and all the gay and lesbians who kill themselves out of shame.But there seems to be groups of gay people and staight people ganging up on bisexuals like me,and thats not fair either.If gays want respect,then they should respect people of their own group (LGBT).

[willrod]

I fell very sad for him and all the gay and lesbians who kill themselves out of shame.But there seems to be groups of gay people and staight people ganging up on bisexuals like me,and thats not fair either.If gays want respect,then they should respect people of their own group (LGBT).

I don't understand that at all! I mean, it's bad enough that bisexuals have to face stigma from straight people, but you'd think that amongst us gays that we'd be perfectly accepting of it. But you bring up a very good point! Also, transgendered people probably have it the worst- they almost always seem to be ostracized by even the gay community. Even I will admit that I don't understand why someone would feel that way- but then again, I'm not in their shoes, nor am I in any position to judge- live and let live, I say!

And then there are LGBT people of color- they face extreme homophobia within their own ethnic groups (especially African-Americans and Hispanics, it seems), as well as racism within the LGBT community itself! You would think that since we are an oppressed minority ourselves that we wouldn't be racist either, but you'd be surprised!

This is something that must be done with society as a whole- it's not an "Us vs. Them" thing. Let's not forget that there are also other forms of discrimination that need to be fought: religious bias, sexism, economic bias, etc.

[Lifeguard18]

I don't understand that at all! I mean, it's bad enough that bisexuals have to face stigma from straight people, but you'd think that amongst us gays that we'd be perfectly accepting of it. But you bring up a very good point! Also, transgendered people probably have it the worst- they almost always seem to be ostracized by even the gay community. Even I will admit that I don't understand why someone would feel that way- but then again, I'm not in their shoes, nor am I in any position to judge- live and let live, I say!

And then there are LGBT people of color- they face extreme homophobia within their own ethnic groups (especially African-Americans and Hispanics, it seems), as well as racism within the LGBT community itself! You would think that since we are an oppressed minority ourselves that we wouldn't be racist either, but you'd be surprised!

This is something that must be done with society as a whole- it's not an "Us vs. Them" thing. Let's not forget that there are also other forms of discrimination that need to be fought: religious bias, sexism, economic bias, etc.

This world is so messed up that it wont get any better at this point in time. Adults literally teach their kids at a young age to hate that they grow up thinking its normal when its not and they do the same to their kids. Remember the girl who wasn't allowed to take her gf to the prom after asking and they postponed the prom. Then the parents made a secret one and discluded her and challenged kids? I forget her name though but she went to itawamba agricultural high school. I wish more people in this world would stop this kind of hate instead of spreading it like wildfire. How could people sleep at night without knowing the kind of damage that they are doing to this world. If john lennon was still alive or other artists like him, he would make a whole bunch of songs that talks about this stuff and how to stop it. Lennons song give peace a chance is just outstanding and should be played a lot. I just can believe people would do such hateful things.



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[Never_Forget]

Of everything that I don't agree with, LGBT harrassment, lack of acceptance, and bullying is the one thing I will not tolerate. And I always make that clear to people. You simply have to be accepting of LGBTs to have any respect from me. You definitely don't have to partake, but we're people, and we have no control over it, just like the colour of your skin and the gender you were born as. I know that sounds a little extreme, but homophobia is just like racism and sexism.

I really think sexuality will unfold like sexism has and segregation has. LGBTs will never be fully accepted, which is sad, that I can't stop being afraid, and future generations can't stop being afraid, but I'm certain that it'll continue to be even more widely accepted. Every generation seems to become more open-minded, very slowly.

/agree.
Couldn't have said it better myself.

[DarkHorses]

Personally I think that we've come a long way over time. People are a lot more accepting of gay people than they would have been 50 years ago. So I think that over the next few years, things will improve. I hate to say it, but I think that these suicides and attempted suicides are almost needed sometimes in order for people to realize the consequences of their actions. People need to start realizing that it's not funny to bully others, and that sometimes it's as serious as life or death. In my mind the people who killed themselves because they were bullied are almost like heroes, because they helped spread awareness, even if they didn't do it in the best way possible. At least their deaths effect a cause, and maybe they will get some people thinking about the things they say.

[Lights]

Funnily enough, I was talking about this (abuse of sexuality) with one of my teachers yesterday. She compared homophobia to racism saying they came under the exact same level of discrimination.
Although most people aren't aware of my sexuality, including my teacher, homophobia is taken very seriously at my school. People who are persistent with homophobic remarks get dealt with harshly.
Parents play such a massive part on the mentalities of their children. The way they bring them up helps to determine the sort of freedom of thought the child thinks they have. If you control your children too much, they will take on all of your beliefs, thus leaving no space for the their own beliefs. On the other hand there are families who love their children, but let them explore and decide their own beliefs. These are the kinds of people who come to being very accepting to other ways of life, eg: homosexuality.
There is hope though. As others have said, generations are starting to become more and more accepting, but it's gradual and it's unlikely that there will ever be a time where everyone accepts it.
It's very sad when you hear about teens who have killed themselves because of the abuse. It's just so horrific and the people responsible will surely feel guilty for the rest of their lives, and if they don't, they have a heart of steel and no soul.
Some schools will be more helpful with support to homophobic remarks than others, but all schools will do something at the very least; unless you're in an anti-homosexual country like Muslim based countries, eg: Saudi Arabia.

[lengthy_brochure]

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[minicoopkart]

well im afraid to come out in the country where i recently moved to. Things are different and with almost everybody i asked about what they think of gays. between the 90% that had a problem with it, half said they should be sent to a special camp or something to change them. And my parents are colombia, same country, so i don't think i'll come out to them for a while

[iMukuro]

Gay bashing is something that people will never get over.
Religions will always be in the way and tradition, etc.
It's a horrible thing, but we can't do too much about it except inform people.