I love my new smartphone. It pretty much does everything except brush my teeth. (and, rumor has it that they're working on an app for that!) My new smartphone is so efficient, I can do all of my early morning online affairs without even leaving my bed. How can THAT be wrong!?
I stumbled upon a message yesterday. It was tucked away in my facebook "other" mailbox. You know, the one we rarely even recognize as being there? I'm glad I did. In that "other" folder lied a cry for help.
His name is Josh. In his email message, he described how reading my blog entry, "Story of the Year!!!", had really helped him. He goes on to describe that his is one of the home environments that are not quite conducive to growing up lgbt.
I was happy to find out from first-person experience that this blog really is reaching and helping people!! That's what this is all about. I was compelled to respond to him if for no other reason than to make sure he knew that there really were people out in the world who will accept him just for being himself.
Enter the beauty of the smartphone. This morning, I woke up and, before a foot ever touched the floor, perused through all of my online junk. Right there in my facebook message folder was a response from Josh, further explaining his plight. He closed the message with "I want to thank you. Lately, I've felt alone alot. It's nice to know somebody cares, after all." That got me out of bed.
Let's start the year off with a bang!!!! This is an urgent CALL TO ACTION! Josh needs to know that there's literally an army of people out here ready to surround and support him. Here's his facebook account. Send him a friend request. Then, be a friend to him. If you can't do that, you can still send him messages. Either way, let's let him know that he really does matter and that things will get better for him with time. Let's NOT have to eventually read about Josh giving up too soon.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Dustin Birch Takes on Westboro Baptist Church
I'm not sure, and don't hold me to this, but I think Dustin is a practicing comedian. If he isn't, he should be. What I do know is that Dustin IS a young gay man who got fed up with dealing with the hatred of Westboro Baptist Church. So, rather than just talk about it and vent his frustration, he took action. Dustin called WBC and left them a message. I'm really doubting that they'll return his call.
For me, the most important part of the entire video is the "greeting" that Shirley Phelps left for the callers. Nothing but hate-filled. I will say this much: if THEIR God is the God that every Christian worships, the world is in a lot of trouble. Dustin hit it right on the head when he said, basically, that the Phelps family, a.k.a. Westboro Baptist Church, really just hates everyone who isn't a white, Anglo-Saxon, "God fearin'", Amurican. If this were 30 years ago, they would still be just as evil, just as malicious, and just as dangerous as they are today. If this were 30 years ago, they would be showing up at the funerals of black people. Instead of the signs declaring how much God Hates Fags, they would say God Hates Niggers. If it were 60 years ago, the signs would read God Hates Jews. The truth of this disaster is that they are just hate-filled people who use God, and the mask of religion, to contaminate this country with their message of (self)hatred and (their own)intolerance. The scariest part of it is they actually do have followers. People who believe in nothing will fall for anything.
DUSTIN CALL WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH!!!
I should probably add a disclaimer right here: I do not endorse some of the language used in the video. (so, if you shock easily, perhaps you should bypass watching it)
I wholeheartedly endorse Dustin for making the call, leaving his message, and making a stand. If you DO watch the video, all of the phone numbers are right there for YOU to call and leave your own message. I say, follow Dustin's lead.
This is the very language of hate that's contributing to the bullying which is leading directly to the teen suicides. Stopping hate-filled people in their tracks, like the Phelps family and Westboro Baptist Church, is imperative in fighting this insidious epidemic.
Job well done, Dustin!
For me, the most important part of the entire video is the "greeting" that Shirley Phelps left for the callers. Nothing but hate-filled. I will say this much: if THEIR God is the God that every Christian worships, the world is in a lot of trouble. Dustin hit it right on the head when he said, basically, that the Phelps family, a.k.a. Westboro Baptist Church, really just hates everyone who isn't a white, Anglo-Saxon, "God fearin'", Amurican. If this were 30 years ago, they would still be just as evil, just as malicious, and just as dangerous as they are today. If this were 30 years ago, they would be showing up at the funerals of black people. Instead of the signs declaring how much God Hates Fags, they would say God Hates Niggers. If it were 60 years ago, the signs would read God Hates Jews. The truth of this disaster is that they are just hate-filled people who use God, and the mask of religion, to contaminate this country with their message of (self)hatred and (their own)intolerance. The scariest part of it is they actually do have followers. People who believe in nothing will fall for anything.
DUSTIN CALL WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH!!!
I should probably add a disclaimer right here: I do not endorse some of the language used in the video. (so, if you shock easily, perhaps you should bypass watching it)
I wholeheartedly endorse Dustin for making the call, leaving his message, and making a stand. If you DO watch the video, all of the phone numbers are right there for YOU to call and leave your own message. I say, follow Dustin's lead.
This is the very language of hate that's contributing to the bullying which is leading directly to the teen suicides. Stopping hate-filled people in their tracks, like the Phelps family and Westboro Baptist Church, is imperative in fighting this insidious epidemic.
Job well done, Dustin!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Story of The Year!!!
To me, at least, this is definitely the story of the year. And, it delivers the MESSAGE of the year: eliminate hate-filled language. Not just in schools, for they're only repeating what they've learned from adults. Indeed, hate speech needs to be dealt with swiftly and harshly, no matter if it's Michele Bachmann or Mr. Johnson from down the street.
This story isn't new. It went viral August 16th. See, "Amelia" has a 6-year-old son who just happened to tell her that he likes kissing boys! In an innocence that only a 6-year-old can provide, he told his mother that it's quite possible that he's gay. Thinking it was cute coming from her 6-year-old son, which it was, she wanted to share that with a couple of online friends. Overnight, it went viral. Why would something so cute and innocent, and personal, go viral overnight? There are two very basic reasons why.
People connected with it easily because we could all relate. Well, most of us. (those who said they couldn't lie to themselves) See, everyone one of us, if we're honest with ourselves, knew when we were in that age group which gender made us happy on the inside. And, it's the ones who make us happy on the inside that we are attracted to, whether it's in childhood or adulthood. I knew when I was 7. And, every single gay friend I've ever had has said the same thing. Conversely, every single straight friend I've ever had knew that the opposite sex pushed their internal buttons. It's only natural! See, we're not talking sex here. We're talking attraction. We're talking about who makes us feel happy inside. Isn't that what love's really about?
"Amelia" not only accepted her son's words at face value (knowing full well that, at age 6, those words were definitely not set in stone), she embraced him. She encouraged him. Guess what happens when he "comes out" at such an early age AND the most important person in your world embraces and encourages you? Your self-esteem has no choice but to soar. Which brings me to the obvious second reason people connected so quickly to this story.
People with Michele Bachmannitis were APPALLED that she would encourage such deviant behavior! "He is much too young to know about sex", they argued. Huh? I think I missed that part of the story. See, the Michele Bachmanns of the world would have the exact opposite effect on this boy: his self-esteem would be ruined. He'd be chastised for his "unnatural" feelings and, probably, sent off to be "cured". That's what "they" do. And, in just a few years, we'd run the risk of having another suicide victim on our hands.
"Amelia" sat up and took notice. And, from her observations, for every Michele Bachmann who commented, there were "multiple messages" saying that they, too, knew when they were very young which gender tickled their fancy. We all do! Of course, at age 6, we don't put a label on it. We don't learn that everyone has to fit into a category until later on in life. But, I knew in 1st grade that Keith made my heart flutter while Debora was just pretty to look at.
The other thing that "Amelia" noticed was how extremely dangerous the hate speech was to not only her 6-year-old son, but to ALL young people! And, indeed it is. As I've been saying, it's damaging on both ends: your bullies learned to hate from somewhere. Enough said. Likewise, however, far-too-many of these young suicide victims "learn" from their Michele Bachmannesque parents that they are "abnormal", "freaks", "deviant", "sick" and worse. They learn that they are defective, that they need to be "fixed". I don't feel I need to say anything about what this does to their young self-esteem. Let's just say that we read about them far too frequently and once it's far too late.
My favorite part of the story, though, is where "Amelia" reached the point where she said "Enough Is Enough!!!" She made a stand. She vowed to protect her children from the Michele Bachmanns of the world because THEY spread hate as if they have a license to do so.
Ever ask yourself why is it so important to these hate mongers that everyone HAS to think as they do, act in accordance to what THEY think is right?
This story isn't new. It went viral August 16th. See, "Amelia" has a 6-year-old son who just happened to tell her that he likes kissing boys! In an innocence that only a 6-year-old can provide, he told his mother that it's quite possible that he's gay. Thinking it was cute coming from her 6-year-old son, which it was, she wanted to share that with a couple of online friends. Overnight, it went viral. Why would something so cute and innocent, and personal, go viral overnight? There are two very basic reasons why.
People connected with it easily because we could all relate. Well, most of us. (those who said they couldn't lie to themselves) See, everyone one of us, if we're honest with ourselves, knew when we were in that age group which gender made us happy on the inside. And, it's the ones who make us happy on the inside that we are attracted to, whether it's in childhood or adulthood. I knew when I was 7. And, every single gay friend I've ever had has said the same thing. Conversely, every single straight friend I've ever had knew that the opposite sex pushed their internal buttons. It's only natural! See, we're not talking sex here. We're talking attraction. We're talking about who makes us feel happy inside. Isn't that what love's really about?
"Amelia" not only accepted her son's words at face value (knowing full well that, at age 6, those words were definitely not set in stone), she embraced him. She encouraged him. Guess what happens when he "comes out" at such an early age AND the most important person in your world embraces and encourages you? Your self-esteem has no choice but to soar. Which brings me to the obvious second reason people connected so quickly to this story.
People with Michele Bachmannitis were APPALLED that she would encourage such deviant behavior! "He is much too young to know about sex", they argued. Huh? I think I missed that part of the story. See, the Michele Bachmanns of the world would have the exact opposite effect on this boy: his self-esteem would be ruined. He'd be chastised for his "unnatural" feelings and, probably, sent off to be "cured". That's what "they" do. And, in just a few years, we'd run the risk of having another suicide victim on our hands.
"Amelia" sat up and took notice. And, from her observations, for every Michele Bachmann who commented, there were "multiple messages" saying that they, too, knew when they were very young which gender tickled their fancy. We all do! Of course, at age 6, we don't put a label on it. We don't learn that everyone has to fit into a category until later on in life. But, I knew in 1st grade that Keith made my heart flutter while Debora was just pretty to look at.
The other thing that "Amelia" noticed was how extremely dangerous the hate speech was to not only her 6-year-old son, but to ALL young people! And, indeed it is. As I've been saying, it's damaging on both ends: your bullies learned to hate from somewhere. Enough said. Likewise, however, far-too-many of these young suicide victims "learn" from their Michele Bachmannesque parents that they are "abnormal", "freaks", "deviant", "sick" and worse. They learn that they are defective, that they need to be "fixed". I don't feel I need to say anything about what this does to their young self-esteem. Let's just say that we read about them far too frequently and once it's far too late.
My favorite part of the story, though, is where "Amelia" reached the point where she said "Enough Is Enough!!!" She made a stand. She vowed to protect her children from the Michele Bachmanns of the world because THEY spread hate as if they have a license to do so.
Ever ask yourself why is it so important to these hate mongers that everyone HAS to think as they do, act in accordance to what THEY think is right?
Thursday, December 29, 2011
With Help Comes Hope
I finally found it! Call me slow, I guess. Earlier in the month, facebook advertised that they were joining the fight against suicides by launching a new page that would be linked with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Until tonight, however, all I could ever find were ARTICLES telling about it. Determined, I tracked it down, finally.
This is a link EVERYONE needs to have handy in case of emergency. Copy and paste it somewhere. Then, write the phone number down somewhere where it's easily accessible.
I'm very happy to report that Joshua is doing much better, thanks to the overwhelming support he's gotten from around the world! He even started therapy. So, kudos to all of you who read about him here and reached out to him. And, for those of you who didn't, you still can send him a friend request. He's accepting all.
When you check out the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and read down the page, you'll see several opportunities for you to reach out, send messages, and embrace these emotionally wounded people as they struggle through a very tough period of their lives. A couple who jumped off the age at me were GaryLucas Love Wang, and Chloe Strand. They're both contemplating at this very moment. Just as we all reached out and pulled Joshua back from the edge, these two people now need that same support. With help comes hope.
This is a link EVERYONE needs to have handy in case of emergency. Copy and paste it somewhere. Then, write the phone number down somewhere where it's easily accessible.
I'm very happy to report that Joshua is doing much better, thanks to the overwhelming support he's gotten from around the world! He even started therapy. So, kudos to all of you who read about him here and reached out to him. And, for those of you who didn't, you still can send him a friend request. He's accepting all.
When you check out the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and read down the page, you'll see several opportunities for you to reach out, send messages, and embrace these emotionally wounded people as they struggle through a very tough period of their lives. A couple who jumped off the age at me were GaryLucas Love Wang, and Chloe Strand. They're both contemplating at this very moment. Just as we all reached out and pulled Joshua back from the edge, these two people now need that same support. With help comes hope.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
By a Thin Thread
I was talking to a friend last night. In fact, she is a very dear friend whom I met since embarking on this life's journey of trying to save lives. She's right there on the frontline with me...and, many others. Last night's conversation was sparked by a young man who was posting suicidal comments to his facebook page. He's fine. At least for now. As she was about to sign off, she told me about another person who was now posting suicidal comments. This one seemed urgent.
Joshua hasn't been a teenager since 1999. Then again, we're not JUST about trying to save teen's lives. Any suicide we can help prevent is a job well done. I don't know the circumstances that has led Joshua to feel so hopeless right now. And, frankly, it just doesn't even matter. What matters right now is building a wall of support around him to keep him from falling to that place where he won't be able to get up. The wall was erected very quickly.
According to his facebook comments, Joshua was hanging on by the thinnest of threads. Whatever is going on with him has really hit him hard. The good news is he's still here. He went to work today. He's now home from work and communicating on his facebook page.
See, I don't believe for a second that Joshua wants to die. I don't think that any suicide victims REALLY want to die. They want the pain to stop. They want to feel whole again. I believe that's the case with Joshua, as well. The great think here is that he is freely accepting friend requests on his facebook page right now! That says to me that he WANTS someone to hold him up until he regains his strength. And, that's where we all come in. That's what our mission is, right? Saving lives...one at a time? You can go, right now!, to Joshua's facebook page, send him a friend request, he'll accept it. I guarantee it. Right now, he's hanging on by a thin thread. What's most important, however, is that he's hanging on.
Joshua hasn't been a teenager since 1999. Then again, we're not JUST about trying to save teen's lives. Any suicide we can help prevent is a job well done. I don't know the circumstances that has led Joshua to feel so hopeless right now. And, frankly, it just doesn't even matter. What matters right now is building a wall of support around him to keep him from falling to that place where he won't be able to get up. The wall was erected very quickly.
According to his facebook comments, Joshua was hanging on by the thinnest of threads. Whatever is going on with him has really hit him hard. The good news is he's still here. He went to work today. He's now home from work and communicating on his facebook page.
See, I don't believe for a second that Joshua wants to die. I don't think that any suicide victims REALLY want to die. They want the pain to stop. They want to feel whole again. I believe that's the case with Joshua, as well. The great think here is that he is freely accepting friend requests on his facebook page right now! That says to me that he WANTS someone to hold him up until he regains his strength. And, that's where we all come in. That's what our mission is, right? Saving lives...one at a time? You can go, right now!, to Joshua's facebook page, send him a friend request, he'll accept it. I guarantee it. Right now, he's hanging on by a thin thread. What's most important, however, is that he's hanging on.
Fed Up People Are Making a Difference!!!!
Tennessee awarded the family of a special needs student who had been severely bullied over $300,000. And, even though Maryland dropped the ball when they had a chance to send a clear "ZERO TOLERANCE" message when they released the school administrators of responsibility in a similar suit, other states are making great progress in toughening their anti-bullying laws. That's great news going forward.
The recent suicide of Jacob Rogers, also in Tennessee, has sparked town hall meetings to push their lawmakers to toughen their laws. Also, over 1,700 people have signed an online petition to force their local government to toughen its laws. That's taking action!!!! Hopefully, every time we see one of these petitions, everyone will sign it. You don't have to live in Cheatham County. You only have to have a burning desire to see things change. That said, here's the link again.
In Iowa, a group called the Eychaner Foundation has launched an anti-bullying website for the state of Iowa. All incidences of bullying can be reported here, with the information sent to school administrators. Anyone can report an incident as it's occurring. That's a great tool. At the very least, it's a huge step in the right direction. Now, we need to see a similar website for every state.
One thing we know for certain: If nothing changes, nothing changes. I think we're beginning to see changes. It's a welcomed sight.
The recent suicide of Jacob Rogers, also in Tennessee, has sparked town hall meetings to push their lawmakers to toughen their laws. Also, over 1,700 people have signed an online petition to force their local government to toughen its laws. That's taking action!!!! Hopefully, every time we see one of these petitions, everyone will sign it. You don't have to live in Cheatham County. You only have to have a burning desire to see things change. That said, here's the link again.
In Iowa, a group called the Eychaner Foundation has launched an anti-bullying website for the state of Iowa. All incidences of bullying can be reported here, with the information sent to school administrators. Anyone can report an incident as it's occurring. That's a great tool. At the very least, it's a huge step in the right direction. Now, we need to see a similar website for every state.
One thing we know for certain: If nothing changes, nothing changes. I think we're beginning to see changes. It's a welcomed sight.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sing a Song; Light a Candle
Tomorrow at 1:00pm, the family and friends of Colton Wilson will say goodbye to the boy they only had the pleasure of knowing for a short 13 years but will love forever. Tomorrow, at 1:00pm, say a prayer, sing a song, light a candle. Anything. Just do something to say goodbye to the young man most of us never knew but will always remember as yet another life that ended far too soon.
For those of you who would like to leave online condolences for the family, there is a facebook page set up in his memory. I'm sure that they would love to hear from you all.
I read recently that suicides for 2011 were at a 40 year low. I find that hard to believe but am ecstatic if it's true. And, yet, to the family and friends of young Colton and the myriad other suicide victims of 2011, that number is completely meaningless. The goal, my prayer, is to get the number of teen suicides down to zero in 2012. Perhaps that's unrealistic, but if we keep that as our goal and work feverishly towards that goal, we will see the number drop significantly in the coming year. That means less families and friends who have to suffer an excruciating pain. That means less young lives lost because of suicide. Now, THAT'S a New Year's resolution!!
For those of you who would like to leave online condolences for the family, there is a facebook page set up in his memory. I'm sure that they would love to hear from you all.
I read recently that suicides for 2011 were at a 40 year low. I find that hard to believe but am ecstatic if it's true. And, yet, to the family and friends of young Colton and the myriad other suicide victims of 2011, that number is completely meaningless. The goal, my prayer, is to get the number of teen suicides down to zero in 2012. Perhaps that's unrealistic, but if we keep that as our goal and work feverishly towards that goal, we will see the number drop significantly in the coming year. That means less families and friends who have to suffer an excruciating pain. That means less young lives lost because of suicide. Now, THAT'S a New Year's resolution!!
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