You can purchase an autographed copy of Anything But Straight by sending a $35 check or money order to:
-------------------------
Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
I absolutely love this new advertising campaign by the The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization that operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline LGBT kids.
"It is significant that our first social marketing campaign will launch during National Suicide Prevention Week because suicide is one of the top three killers of all young people, and LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers," said Charles Robbins, executive director, The Trevor Project. "It is time for young people to rise above homophobia and work together to create inclusive, respectful environments for one another."
The "I'm Glad I Failed" print and online advertisements can be downloaded free of charge at TheTrevorProject.org/ImGladIFailed.
Hats off to the Trevor Project for launching a campaign that will save lives.
11 Comments:
And all the fundamentalist type religions and rightwing politicians who fuel this tragedy with their constant, merciless, toxically shaming rhetoric are complicit in these deaths. That's the REAL and only 'abomination' here! Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at
8/19/2008 10:42 AM
Let us brace ourselves, we can expect the usual predictable band of anonymous right wing christo-fascists posting on this one. Great ad though, hats off to the Trevor Project.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/19/2008 11:42 AM
I'm glad I failed too. No kid should ever have to consider it as a serious option. No human being should ever feel that afraid and lonely.
I don't like to think about the past, but sometimes I wish I could go back in time and tell that lonely, terrified kid version of me that everything would turn out just fine after I got the hell out of Rednecksville and into college.
And yeah, those fundamentalists and right wingers are complicit, they are the ones generating and perpetuating the intolerance which is the exact reason why any LGBT kid would consider suicide. But good luck getting them to take personal responsibility for their words and actions.
More likely, they're gonna cite "increased risk of suicide" as a harmful result of the "homosexual lifestyle".
Look Anonymous. We all know people who have attempted suicide because they are gay. If anything, the numbers are way low, as many young people commit suicide because they are gay, but never come out, so they are not counted.
Anonymous, we put up with your BS because this is a tolerant site. But your despicable, lying propaganda filled voice will not be heard on this thread. Period.
We will not allow you to devalue the lives of young GLBT children who committed suicide because of people like you.
Unfortunately, teen suicde is at an all time high. That includes children who are GLBTQ and others as well.
Suicide is a national epidemic among our youth - whether you are gay or not, I would like to see everyone come together to help these kids.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/19/2008 2:23 PM
Good column on huffpo which is relevant to this topic
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/keli-goff/losing-my-religion_b_119853.html
posted by Anonymous, at
8/19/2008 4:03 PM
Coming Out is a product/by-product of heterosexism. Heterocentric views and ideals start early in our lives through fairy tales and children’s stories (boy meets girl - princess gets her prince). People have to come to terms with the conflict presented living in a heterocentric world. Some people come to terms with their sexual orientation very early in life, others come out later in life. Some, even aware of their internal struggle, often end up processing it (driving it inward) and develop their own homophobia: An internalized hatred of oneself that continues and continues and leads to rage, suicide, and acts of hate toward others not of the heterosexist world. Another factor that folk need to be aware is ‘coming out’ is not a one-time event. People need to come out on a continual basis. To their family, extended family, to their employers, co-workers, and even professionals, ie their doctor, lawyer, mechanic, etc. A friend of mine is an educator, and realized that once he began to come out to his students, he would have to endure the process every year. There are young people who choose to come out early and then there are others who will postpone the process until they feel safe, both at home and in their social circle. Imagine having to sit through family events and having people wonder ‘when is he/she getting married?’ or ‘why doesn’t he/she have someone to share the holidays?’ Kudos to the Trevor Project. It would be nice to see similar monies spent on projects like this, instead of presidential campaigns. I helped youth in NE Washington in Spokane for over 5 years. Was sad to remember some of the souls lost to suicide and other destructive behaviors.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/19/2008 4:47 PM
Wayne, I was not devaluing gay lives.
Are you blind. Teenagers of all kinds are at risk.
You may not like the fact that yes, being gay is stressful and guess what - add in teenage and now you have a pretty bad mix.
You're so blind and self absorbed that you could not see past your own bias of me.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/19/2008 7:24 PM
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