Anti-Gay Bullying Leads To Suicide, Murder, Hate Crimes, Violence. Make It Stop.

Congress Takes Up Matthew Shepard Act Wednesday

 

 

Last Thursday, yet another eleven year old boy committed suicide. Jaheem Herrera hung himself after coming home from school, having been subjected to taunts and bullying, in his DeKalb County, Georgia school. “They called him gay and a snitch,” his stepfather said. “All the time they’d call him this.”

One week before, Carl Walker committed suicide in his Springfield, Massachusetts home, in much the same manner, and for much the same reason.

Then there was Lawrence King, the 15-year old California boy who died after being shot by a classmate who “took issue with King’s effeminate ways and love of lady’s clothing.” And Eric Mohat, who committed suicide, or “bullicide”, and whose parents are suing his Ohio school system to officially acknowledge that bullying led to their son’s death.

There are countless more stories of anti-gay and homophobic bullying, some that lead to suicide, some that lead to violence, some, as in the case of Matthew Shepard, that lead to violent death. Chances are that you yourself, or your sibling, or spouse or child, has encountered some form of bullying. It needs to stop.

The Boston Globe reports,

“Nationwide, suicide rates among 10- to 14-year-olds have grown more than 50 percent over the last three decades, according to the American Association of Suicidology, or the AAS. In 2005, the last year nationwide statistics were available, 270 children in that age group killed themselves. Suicide remains among the leading causes of death of children under 14. And in most cases, the young people die from hanging.”

As I wrote just last week,

“While only a small percentage of all youths are gay, approximately 40% of all runaway youths are gay. 40%. Gay teens are up to four times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual counterparts.”

Tomorrow, Congress takes up the Federal Hate Crimes Bill, better known as the Matthew Shepard Act. It needs your support. Everyone needs your support. It’s fast and easy and painless. Tell Congress you want this bill to pass. Do it now. Go to HRC’s Fight Hate Now to learn more and to contact Congress, all in one easy click.