Serious moment….

Usually I try not to be too serious on my blog. I post eye candy and news about my writing, because really who needs to be serious all the time, right?

But a terrible trend is rocking our nation and it seems like lately it’s gotten even worse. Teenagers are killing themselves because of bullying. It’s not right that our young people feel the only way out is to die when other teens bully or harass them. No one, no matter whether you’re gay or straight, black, white, Asian, Native American…or Jewish, Christian, Muslim or other…should be made fun of or treated like less than others.

There are several causes out there we can support that help get the message out to kids that suicide isn’t the answer. The answer is to live and enjoy life. The best revenge against bullies is to go on and have a good life.

One blogger is looking for 500 comments on her blog…and she’ll donate a dollar for each comment up to $500 to two worthy projects. Here’s the information on her campaign:

Please help GLBTTQ youth by stopping by KatieBabs’ blog. For every comment
left, Katie is donating a dollar to the Matthew Shepard Foundation and to
The Trevor Project. Let’s help her raise 500 dollars for two desperately
needed organizations.

http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2010/10/it-gets-better-my-500-pledge.html

Also, as is mentioned in the above blog post, Dan Savage has started the ‘It Gets Better’ Project. Where LGBT adults can post their own videos on youtube about how bully affected them and how their lives are better now.

To Write Love on Her Arm is another such cause to help people find other alternatives besides suicide, addiction, and self-harm.

Please if you get a chance today, go check out these sites. Because we’re all in this together. When one teenager (or adult for that matter) kills themselves, we are that much less.

13 Responses “Serious moment….”

  1. mel says:

    Hi,
    I posted there and then passed on the info to another author I read. I hope you don't mind but, I let her know I got it from you. In case the link I sent her did not work.
    Thank you for letting us know about this I makes me sad that people can't just accept others the way they are and leave them alone.
    Thank you again

  2. Lynn Lorenz says:

    With a child who has been the subject of bullies and harrassment his entire life due to his Asperger's (high functioning Autism) it's not surprising to see the incidences of kids that would rather end their pain than go on.

    It Gets Better is such a wonderful project, and I hope everyone spreads the link and supports the cause.

    When my son was 9 and told me he wanted to kill himself to end the constant harrassment he'd endured since kindergarden, I knew I had to stop talking to the school and it's administrators and take action.
    Even my son's few friends let it go on, afraid that the bully would turn on them if they interferred.
    I pulled him out and found (thru a great deal of searching) a small charter school that understood him and his needs.
    Without this school and his great teachers I doubt he would now be attending a large public high school, where amazingly he's barely noticed. (900 kids in his class)

    Middle and high school are the worst times for bullying, and it's also the most fragile time of a kid's life.
    No matter what the reason, bullying is wrong. There is no excuse for it, and it takes a truly strong person to stand up against it. Mostof our kids aren't that strong.

    And the methods that are usually espoused to stop bullying rarely work. It's only going to be a change in our way of thinking, society as a whole, to make bullying as unacceptable as other zero tolerance issues.

    Sorry for the vent, but it just hits too close to home to remain silent.

  3. Mary says:

    TA thank you for posting this. When I saw the news reports I was livid. I love to read the genre you write about but it also hits very close to home. My neice is a lesbian and it really hurts when I hear about instances like the one that just happened. I don't personally understand why people can't just accept someone for who they are not the color of their skin or sexual preferance. Thank you for posting those links, I will make sure I visit them.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Sending links to my friends.
    I was bullied because I was "the fat kid" …. till I got boobs – then I was accused of stuffing my bra and starving myself… when will kids ever get the idea just what the word 'individual' means??

    Thank you TA.

    Much Love and Many Hugs

    **Nicole Campbell
    froggie4you2002@@yahoo.com

  5. T.A.Chase says:

    Karen,

    I'd contact both the foster services/agency wherever you're living now and ask them about how to go about showing preference, but also if there are any LGBTQ organizations or groups in your area, contact them as well. They would more than likely be thrilled to help you in the process.

  6. Araya says:

    I have a weird question for all. My husband and I have been thinking about fostering kids who are GLBT. I think so many need a place to go to where they are comfortable and accepted. Does anyone know how I would go about doing that?
    I have signed up for fostering in MA but dont know how to show preference for GLBT kids. Especially ones that have been kicked out of their houses. Any ideas? Thanks

    Karen

  7. T.A.Chase says:

    Thank you, everyone. It is an issue that needs to be given a great deal of attention.

    Anonymous, LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-gendered, and Queer (or Questioning..those people who aren't necessarily sure what they identify as. 🙂

  8. Jambrea says:

    Wonderful causes. I love the 'It Gets Better' Videos.

    Thank you for bringing it up on your blog TA. I know I've already commented on Katie's blog and reposted some of the videos on Facebook.

    I worry about PMan all the time and hope he never has to go through bullying. I know that I talk to him all the time about not hurting others or himself.

    We had a teen kill himself here in my town because of bullying. There is a candlelight thing for him later this week.

    Very sad.

  9. Anonymous says:

    We had a child in north Texas last spring who was in 3rd grade – 9 years old – who hung himself in the nurse's office at school. When his mother was asked about it she told the news that her son had been having other students make fun of his name (Montana). The school had put the family off about it because boys will tease, etc… which is a complete cop out but is at the same time often true. Bullying is being taken more seriously now but way too late…

  10. Yvonne says:

    Even though my son is now 22, I still worry about him being harassed because he is mixed race or as he says Mulatto.

    I will stop by the sites listed to help in some way.

    Yvonne

  11. Anonymous says:

    I agree with you. but what is 'GLBTTQ' stand for? I no what 'LGBT' is but not the other. will check out these out sites you are sharing.

  12. Jen says:

    P.S. I try to keep my personal life away from my kids school life – but unfortunately, them having a mother like me doesn't help them any. That's also sad, even though they will never deny me, even if it would make it easier on them.

    Oh well, one day . . . one day.

  13. Jen says:

    You know – being the mother of two I worry about this all the time. Especially with my youngest who is so soft, which is one of her endearing traits, but can also hurt her.

    I'll definitely check out the sites, I want to kill those cretins whenever either of my kids comes home upset.

    Lots of love to everyone out there!

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