Supporting LGBT Youths: The Tragedy of Suicide

Never in my life has something so devastated me as the idea that there are LGBT youths committing suicide because of who they are. This is a heartbreaking phenomena, and one that needs to stop.

Deep inside me, I have the great desire to pull these young people aside and explain to them that everything will be okay, that they are not alone, and that things can get better. In my mind, there is simply no greater tragedy than a society that torments some to such a degree that they are left feeling lost, segregated and absolutely hopeless.

You see, when a gay child is born, he or she is generally not born into a gay family or a gay community. They are not continually surrounded with people that are just like them. They can't walk down the street and see scores of others like them. In this respect, members of the LGBT community are bit different from racial minorities. Not even their parents understand their situation, even if they choose to accept them for who they are. They are truly different from nearly everyone they know and love. It's an incredibly isolating existence.

Even if they are not constantly tormented by other students while the teacher turns a blind eye, they are continually reminded of how different they are from everyone else. Their friends start dating members of the opposite sex; their teachers are married with children; and sometimes their clergymen remind them of how sinful homosexuality is. In the worst case scenario, they begin to hate themselves for being different, and see nothing on the horizon that suggests their lives will begin to improve.

What do I implore others to do? I implore them to reach out to LGBT youths and remind them that they really can have a happy future. Remind them that there are others like them, and they are simply not as alone as they feel. Most simply, remind them that they are loved for who they are.

I'm a 24 year old gay man, and I can still feel the isolation. I'm denied the opportunity to hold hands with someone I love in public without fear. We've come so far, but there's always the possibility that someone will see two homosexuals embracing and decide that they need be taught a lesson. Let's not forget, after all, that if two gay men or women walk down the street hand in hand, they are "flaunting their sexuality."

To the young ones: Things do get easier, and things do get better, but it is always a something of a struggle. Just know that you're not alone. Be mindful of organizations out there like GLSEN, that might be able to help you feel a bit more safe and a bit less isolated.

Policing the News

The news simply keeps the public informed as to what is going on. It delivers accurate and unbiased accounts of world events. At least, that's the idea. The emergence of 24 hour news channels has seemingly led to the need to fill several of those hours with biased and vitriolic news reporting.

Alarmingly, "the news" has become completely unreliable and needs policed. We can no longer sit down in front of the television and expect accurate portrayals of events from the major cable news channels, namely Fox and MSNBC.

This is, precisely, where the internet comes in. No, I'm not making any claims as to how reliable the internet is as a news source, but I am underscoring the importance of the internet as a watchdog.

One could watch Fox news and get the distinct impression that President Obama called The United States a "Muslim Nation" and gave 9/11 doubters a voice on the national stage. Now, both of these things are obviously untrue, but you wouldn't have any idea if you were watching Sean Hannity and his questionable edits of the President's speeches.

Perhaps in days past, he could get away with this, and no one would be the wiser. Now, you can get the whole picture from the internet. Not only are there myriad sites itching at the opportunity to juxtapose what Hannity claims to what Obama actually says, but you could simply watch the whole speech and decide for yourself -- anytime, anywhere.

"Sola Scriptura" was the name of the Protestant idea of learning about god through reading the bible, opposed to listening to a priest or preacher. Basically, the printing press made bibles more easily accessible and literacy more widespread. People realized that they could forge their own ideas and no longer needed a "middle man"to convey the message of their god.

I propose that this is what we start doing with the news. The internet allows us to view the evidence unlike ever before. So, whenever possible, go to the source. Watch the speech, read the documents, form your own opinions and simply cut out the news channels. When the middle man has his own agenda, it's time to take back control.

Gazing at the Stars

Star worship is something I’m simply unable to understand. Celebrities, like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, are chased and hounded by men and women hoping to snap a shot of them shopping at the grocery store. Regular folk, meanwhile, decry the drastic members these photogs go to for a coveted picture of Ms. Lohan or her peers eating a sandwich.

Let’s try on a bit of mea culpa for a second, though. It occurs to me that the paparazzi are not a group of artistic photographers who have dedicated their lives to capturing a perfect shot of celebrities in the wild. They are tabloid and magazine photographers trying to make some money. Now, where does the “mea culpa” come into play? It’s simple. Things only have a value if we make them valuable. As a society, we want to see these pictures. We’re interested in where Britney goes to drink and who styles George’s hair. It’s a supply and demand society folks. Stop demanding dull pics of your favorite stars and watch the paparazzi disappear.

I have a deeper question, as well. What are we missing from our lives that you care to see a shot of Reese Witherspoon buying a grande Caffe Americano or Tom Cruise lying on the beach?

I’d much rather be living my own life than just watching someone else live theirs.