My best friend has a child who came out. In return, she was bullied and threatened at school. I can’t imagine what I would do if this were my child. I’m fiercely and ferociously protective of my children, just as my friend is of her child and this has enraged me. Fortunately, she has a tremendous support group and her mother is one of the most awesome, brilliant, and intelligent women I have ever met. She’s going to make it and the world is going to be a better place because of both of them.

But, there are others who are not so lucky. Others just as wonderful who would have brought so much life and love into this world if they had been nurtured, supported, and loved unconditionally.

“On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes at at their schools. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and schools.”

RIP Tyler Clementi, Seth Walsh (top)
Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase (middle)
Asher Brown and Billy Lucas. (bottom)

Seth Walsh was from Tehachapi, California. That is a small mountain town about 30 minutes from where I live. While I believe there is a growing portion of the population of Bakersfield that is tolerant, accepting, and supportive – I’m sad to say that there is a large number here still who aren’t. They hide behind their bibles and their churches, they say things like “it’s a choice” when certainly they made no choice to be heterosexual. And, they will sit back now and not be swayed by these senseless deaths.

To them I say shame on you. I know you, I’ve lived around you my whole life, I’ve been ashamed and embarrassed by your hateful, small-minded views. Some of you I’ve called friend, some of you were in my wedding, some of you attended my wedding, some of you claim to care about my children and I have to wonder how much you would still care if the smart, funny, wonderful children you claim to care so much for came out of the closet.

I remember “agreeing to disagree” with you. I remember being horrified when you didn’t support marriage equality, I recall being sick to my stomach when you said “gays shouldn’t be allowed to adopt.”

But its different now and I will no longer look the other way. Its not political its not about this hateful God you worship, its now about life and death because children are dying. Its time for all of us to take responsibility because we’ve contributed, whether it was my equal-opportunity tolerance or you contributing to the intolerance.

My children have friends who are gay, they would waste no time at all defending their friends or protecting them from a bully. They both left the house this morning wearing purple. I’m tremendously proud of them both. I wish more kids were like them, I wish more parents encouraged their kids to be like them. If more parents had then maybe it wouldn’t have cost the 9 lives in the last 6 weeks that it has.

It’s time for things to change. The ugly rhetoric has to stop. The violence has to stop. The bullying and harassment has to stop.

Turn This World Around – Amy Grant

We are all the same it seems,
Behind the eyes.
Broken promises and dreams
In good disguise.
All we’re really looking for
Is somewhere safe and warm.
The shelter of each other in the storm.

Maybe one day
We can turn and face our fears.
Maybe one day
We can reach out through the tears.
After all it’s really not that far
To where hope can be found.
Maybe one day
We can turn this world around.

You can trace the path of time.
Not you and me.
The twisting road we call our lives,
We cannot see.
The hunger and the longing
Every one of us knows inside.
Could be the bridge between us if we try.

Maybe one day
We can turn and face our fears.
Maybe one day
We can reach out through the tears.
After all it’s really not that far
To where hope can be found.
Maybe one day
We can turn this world around.

After all it’s really not that far
To where hope can be found.
Maybe one day
We can turn and face our fears.
Maybe one day
There’ll be laughter in our tears.
After all it’s really not that far
To where hope can be found.
Maybe one day
We can turn this world around.
We can turn this world around.
Maybe we can one day
Turn this world around.
Oh, let’s turn this whole world around.

I don’t think I could say it any better than CP has so I’m going to copy her words and I encourage and implore you to read them and take them to heart.

“I encourage you to join in me in my endeavor to get out the word about The Trevor Project so that no more teenagers succumb to suicide due to being bullied in school. If you have an urgent emergency and need help, call The Trevor Project. That number is The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386).

In the interim, I must encourage you to take 15 minutes out of your life and watch the short film “Trevor”, the movie that inspired The Trevor Project. It is 15 minutes that will change your life and make you realize that yes, it DOES get better.

You may watch the movie in full HERE Please encourage your children to watch it as well.

Nine children in the past 6 weeks have killed themselves due to bullying. Those are nine beautiful lives that were full of potential and promise being snuffed out in the springtime of their lives. So much in store for them, so much lying ahead for them and now, they will never know.

It’s time to put religion and politics aside and let humanity, compassion, and human kindness come forward.