"This week, we sadly lost [four] young men who took their own lives for one unacceptable reason: they were being bullied and harassed because they were openly gay or believed to be gay. These unnecessary tragedies come on the heels of at least three other young people taking their own lives because the trauma of being bullied and harassed for their actual or perceived sexual orientation was too much to bear.
This is a moment where every one of us - parents, teachers, students, elected officials, and all people of conscience - needs to stand up and speak out against intolerance in all its forms. Whether it's students harassing other students because of ethnicity, disability or religion; or an adult, public official harassing the President of the University of Michigan student body because he is gay, it is time we as a country said enough. No more. This must stop."
--Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, addressing the recent rash of young gay men who have committed suicide due to homophobic bullying. Kudos for referencing the absurd Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell who has been harassing gay University of Michigan student body president Chris Armstrong for no other reason than Armstrong lives an honest life of integrity while Shirvell can't deal with his issues as an adult. The only reason Shirvell hasn't been fired is because the Attorney General of Michigan is a Republican and therefore scared to death of the ultra right wing bigots.
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Young gays (especially men) will be bullied and harassed as long as our government permits policies like Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the DOMA act. Our government legitimizes treating gays and lesbians less than whole. Obama and the Democrats had a chance to do something about it this time and they did nothing. Until government ends official discrimination of gays and lesbians the bullying and deaths will continue.
Good for Ms. Duncan. We need much more of this kind of talk (and follow-up action, too. I agree with what Ron said) from our elected and appointed officials.
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