For Many Gay Youth, Bullying Exacts a Deadly Toll

As a gay man, I would say that America is woefully behind our allies in respecting LGBT citizens rights. What kind of message are our political leaders and so-called Elmer Gantry preachers, like Bishop Eddie Long, sending to young people? The message I see is that it is okay to bully LGBT kids because we are second class citizens any way. While other countries, even Catholic countries, have decided separation of church and state includes allowing gays to marry we still have a so-called "Fierce Advocate," President Obama, who has said he has a problem with gays being married because he stated "God is in the mix..." Yea, so what? My God loves me and my committed relationship as much as he loves opposite sex marriages. I'm tired of being told by small minded Talibangelicals what God believes based on their narrow interpretation of their favorite flavor of the Bible.

LGBT American citizens can not openly serve in the armed forces and we are not protected from being summarily fired because our bosses don't happen to like our mannerisms. It doesn't matter if you are gay or not, if you act too effeminate as a man or too masculine as a woman you can get fired in most states.

What kind of message do you think institutionalized discrimination sends to both the VICTIMS and the potential bullies, who are probably just projecting hatred they've learned from their parents, pastors, teachers, coaches or political leaders?

Maybe the United States should catch up with the rest of the world in observing equal civil rights for LGBT American citizens? It is 2010, after all...

The blood of those teenagers who killed themselves from their despair is on the hands of those politicians, pastors, so-called leaders and even our supposed friends who tell us to WAIT who continue to oppress us by not recognizing the rights inherent in our being citizens of the United States of America.

Timothy Beauchamp of OK 12:55AM October 09, 2010