A Message on Anti-Gay Behavior

Below is a message from Ellen DeGeneres regarding bullying specifically the bullying of gay students.  I have met with many gay, lesbian and a few transgender students at our high school over the years.  What a long, rocky road that is through middle school and high school.  Many have dropped out and most hide who they are and how they feel.  There are a few who have come out in high school, but that's pretty rare especially in this small town. 

It's maddening to hear adults pile on, make snide remarks and model homophobic behavior.  I'm in favor of gay bashing being grounds for getting fired, but it would be hard to enforce.  The times I have brought this topic up in a meeting it has been dismissed and uncomfortable and sadly I'm usually in meetings with counselors present! 

Here are the remarks from Ellen two days ago:

I am devastated by the death of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi. If you don't know, Tyler was a bright student at Rutgers University whose life was senselessly cut short. He was outed as being gay on the internet and he killed himself.


Something must be done. This month alone, there has been a shocking number of news stories about teens who have been teased and bullied and then committed suicide; like 13-year-old Seth Walsh in Tehachapi, California. Asher Brown, 13, of Cypress, Texas and 15-year-old Billy Lucas in Greensberg, Indiana. This needs to be a wake-up call to everyone: teenage bullying and teasing is an epidemic in this country, and the death rate is climbing.


One life lost in this senseless way is tragic. Four lives lost is a crisis. And these are just the stories we hear about. How many other teens have we lost? How many others are suffering in silence? Being a teenager and figuring out who you are is hard enough without someone attacking you.


My heart is breaking for their families, their friends and for a society that continues to let this happen. These kids needed us. We have an obligation to change this. There are messages everywhere that validate this kind of bullying and taunting and we have to make it stop. We can't let intolerance and ignorance take another kid's life.


I want anyone out there who feels different and alone to know that I know how you feel. There is help out there. You can find support in your community. If you need someone to talk to or if you want to get involved, here are some organizations doing great work:


The Trevor Project at 866 4U TREVOR. It's a 24-hour, national help line for gay and questioning teens. You can learn more about The Trevor Project at their website: thetrevorproject.org.


Angels and Doves is a nationwide anti-bullying non profit organization.
Their website is AngelsandDoves.com

The National Center for Bullying Prevention is helping to promote awareness and teach effective ways to respond to bullying. You can learn more about them at their website: Pacer.org/bullying


The Matthew Shepard Foundation runs Matthew's Place, an online community and resource center for LGBTQ youth. The website is matthewsplace.com


GLSEN is also a great organization that is working to eradicate bullying and bias in schools. Their website is: glsen.org


STOMP Out Bullying is focused on reducing bullying and cyberbullying. Find out more on their website: stompoutbullying.org


Things will get easier, people's minds will change, and you should be alive to see it.
Ellen DeGeneres

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B-hVWQnjjM
To all who read this, please join me in confronting adults who condone and perpetuate antigay, anti-children behavior. Let's honor and respect children for who they are and what they may grow to be; meet them where they are and encourage them to be on the outside who they know they are on the inside.

Maybe someday peace in all our hearts ~