I received the following e-mail from Triskelion, our school’s LGBTQA student group, and wanted to call to attention the recent spike in “teen suicides by gay-identified youth.” While the reasons these LGBTQ youth felt the need to take their lives is a whole bigger question, the Brandeis community will be holding a peace vigil tomorrow at 5:30 at the Peace Circle outside Usdan in order to remember these people.
For all of you who have been following the news, this has been a sad time in LGBTQ history. In the last 3 weeks, there have been 5 teen suicides by gay-identified youth. Because of this, the Trevor Project is promoting a national moment of silence today at 8:00 p.m. If you would like to participate, all you need to do is to take a moment out of your day at 8 o’clock and reflect on the lives that have been lost. If you would like more information, I will place links below to some news articles and the Trevor Project.
The Trevor Project: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ or http://www.facebook.com/TheTrevorProject
Asher Brown, 13: http://www.queerty.com/shock-gay-texas-13-year-old-asher-brown-shoots-himself-in-the-head-after-horrific-school-torment-20100928/
Seth Walsh, 13: http://www.queerty.com/bullied-to-death-seth-walsh-13-dies-after-10-days-on-life-support-after-suicide-attempt-20100928/
Billy Lucas, 15: http://www.queerty.com/billy-lucas-15-hangs-himself-after-classmates-called-him-a-fag-one-too-many-times-20100914/
Tyler Clementi, 18: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/10/01/2010-10-01_tyler_clementis_parents_open_up_on_rutgers_freshmans_suicide_after_gay_encounter.html
Raymond Chase, 19: http://thenewsoftoday.com/raymond-chase-19-year-old-gay-male-is-5th-suicide-in-last-3-weeks/3095/
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In order to respond to these tragedies, Trisk leaders and Brandeis’ Program Coordinator for Sexual and Gender Diversity Alison Better have organized an LGBTQ Suicide Candlelight Vigil this Monday to mourn the loss of everyone who has committed suicide “for reasons related to their non-normative identity.” The Vigil is planned for tomorrow at 5:30pm, at the Peace Circle outside of Usdan.
If you are interested, please attend and invite people to the facebook event