The tragic news hits me today that Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-hold Rutgers freshman killed himself after his roommate secretly broadcasted his same-sex encounters live on the web (story: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/nyregion/30suicide.html?hp).
This is no isolate event. A string of gay bullying tragedies occurred recently, including the suicide of 13-year-old Asher Brown from Houston on September 23. Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old from Greensburg, Indian, hung himself after being bullied for years by classmates who suspected that he was gay. (story: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/update-ca-anti-gay-bullying-victim-dies-following-suicide-attempt).
This exactly underlines the fact gays live in such a hostile environment in U.S. These cultural prejudices and anti-gay bullies makes growing up an especially challenging process for gay teens. That's why the gay rights battle should be fought not only in economic terms but also on cultural/societal grounds. How many more lost lives are needed to wake up the "mainstream"?
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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