Suicide Hotline Seeks to Expand
It should be disquieting to many, that a suicide prevention and help line, aiding GLBT youth from taking their own lives, is feeling the need to expand its operation. While it should expand, given the need for it, it is a sad commentary on today’s society that it needs to.
The Trevor Project ( 866-4-U-TREVOR ) has taken over 98,000 calls since its founding. That alone speaks volume to the crisis facing GLBT Youth.
Founded by James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone - the producers of the 1994 Academy Award winning short film “Trevor” about a gay 13-year old boy who, when rejected by friends and peers because of his sexuality, makes an attempt to take his life - it is the only nationwide, around-the-clock suicide prevention helpline for gay and questioning youth. (source)
We can talk about how comments and actions by leaders effect our youth, but these people deal with the reality of it. This is the result of Homophobia in its ultimate form, when children are so desperate for relief, that suicide becomes a viable option. When a Preacher speaks from his pulpit, condemning homosexuality, when world leaders like Bush hold news conferences to seek amendments to deny GLBT basic civil rights, or threatens to VETO legislation designed to help protect them, it is the people who man the hotlines at the Trevor Project who deal with the real reality of it.
Is this what Mitt Romney means when he talks about a just society, a fair Christian valued society? Where innocent children are robbed of hope, of believing in a world where they aren’t taunted, hated?
The saddest part of all this, is that it is so called ‘men of faith‘ are at the cause of most of this despair. Men who should be the guiding force to healing it, to building the bridges over the divide between the straight world and the gay community. It is Religion that should be embracing these children, not pushing them over the edge. So, yes it is important for organizations like the Trevor Project to expand, it is a shame that there is the need for such expansion.
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One Response to “Suicide Hotline Seeks to Expand”
#1
¬ Gay Persuasions » Education is at the Heart of It All
June 28th, 2007 at 12:08 am
[...] or by suicide. It is why Suicide Hotlines are expanding their operations, (see comment ‘Suicide Hotline Seeks to Expand‘) to cope with the rising numbers of teens needing help. The study, produced for LGBT group [...]