In response to Monday’s news of the eleventh anti-gay hate-related teen suicide, Tanya Domi, a regular contributor here at The New Civil Rights Movement, offered this comment:
This is so terrible, so agonizing. I think the Surgeon General of the United States and the Center for Disease Control should declare a public health emergency and direct all state departments of health to report data on youth suicides for the past year. In addition, these state departments of health should be directed to conduct a survey and prepare a report on mental health issues related to LGBT youth discrimination and bullying in educational institutions K thru 12. I do not think it is feasible to think Congress could call immediate hearings in the middle of an election. But we don’t need to wait for Congress on this urgent matter of public health.
I agree. Aside from a press release from the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, what leadership or support have we seen from President Obama or other members of his administration?
Surely, eleven suicides in one month, with now another two being reported, is enough to declare this a crisis?