Friday was not a good day for school kids in two states on separate sides of the country. There was Drew Ferraro's completely suicide attempt in La Cresenta, CA in front of his classmates. The students of Cresenta Valley High School, many of them friends of his, were left severely traumatized and to try to make sense of what they had just witnessed. Their recovery will take years.
On that same day, 14-year-old Hunter Mack, of Walpole, NH, made an unsuccessful attempt, also in front of classmates. In Drew's case, early reports say that bullying was definitely a factor. However, in Drew's case, it appears that depression was the biggest factor. In both cases, the casualty list extends far beyond the victims, themselves.
Despite what some out-of-touch politicians and "religious leaders" are attempting to hoodwink us into believing, the fact of the matter is that this is an epidemic. It's taken on a life all of its own. And, as is usually the case when the rubber really meets the road, it will have to we, the ordinary, caring, and compassionate people who will make the necessary changes to end this scourge. It will have to be those people who have seen one too many young person end their life far, far too soon. It will have to take the families and friends of past victims to honor their lost loved ones by continuing to reach out to others in hope that no other family, no more friends will have to go through the lifelong pain that they are going through.
We can't count on our politicians. Michele Bachmann, and likeminded religious fanatics in her district, virtually declared war on the LGBT teens who reside in her district. The result has been an explosion of teen suicides in the Anoka-Hennepin district. Stacey Campfield is busy introducing bills that makes LGBT teens sitting ducks. His bills will make it ok to bully and abuse them as long as it's for "religious, political, or philosophical beliefs". He wants it so that teacher would risk losing their careers at the mere mention of the word gay. And, there are others around the country who are busy trying to pass similar legislations.
Religious leaders are just barely better. And, to be sure, not all religious leaders are all-condemning of LGBT youth or the LGBT community in general. Similarly, not all politicians are jackasses, either.
Still, the change that is desperately needed at this very point-in-time is going to have to at least START with us, the common folk. We who care. We who are right there on the battlefront watching the carnage. The bright side of that it that there are many regular people in every size, shape, age, and color, and from all around the world!, doing their part to help bring this madness to an end. And, indeed, things are being done, and progress is being made. Young people are reaching out to other troubled teens. Songs are being written; videos recorded. Hotlines have been set-up. Online support networks have been set up. Ordinary people who have just said: "Enough is Enough! How can I get involved!? This has got to end!" This epidemic must, and will!, be wiped out.
Until we reach that end, there will still be casualties, unfortunately. But, as we continue to grow massively in numbers, and as we continue to bring global awareness to this issue, we will begin to see that casualty list decrease. Until that day, however, we have to continue to fight like hell! There are just too many lives in the balance to do anything else.
At this moment, 14-year-old Hunter Mack lay in a New Hampshire hospital attempting to recover from his attempt at ending his young life. Let's hope for a speedy recovery for him as well as healing for his family, friends, and schoolmates. They all have a long journey ahead of them.
