Gay Suicides: Epidemic

Recently, the media has very publicly covered the suicides of several teenagers, some gay, and some just perceived gay.  Many have called the recent spate of violence and bullying an epidemic.

Community wide, this coverage and visibility is a blessing.  It is with great hope that we look to our leaders, from the pulpits to the podiums, to effect some change in the perception that Homosexuality is not a dividing line in the human race and that all children deserve the chance to become the best and most productive people that they can.

On a very personal note,  I am wondering why this is just now being called an epidemic.  Why is it now that we have finally put our collective foot down and said "this must end"?

Here are some startling things to know:  1989 - The US Secretary of Health and Human Services published a report which suggested that gay and lesbian youths are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide and that they account for up to 30% of the total adolescent suicide rate.

Let that sink in a minute....UP TO 30% of the total adolescent suicide rate.

For the purposes of this Blog, let's lower that number a little bit.  Let's assume 20% and allow the naysayers some wriggle room.

Time for some math. 

According to Suicide.org, in 2005, 4212 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 committed suicide.

If 20% of those 4212 people were homosexual, then (4212/20%) = 842 young gay people took their lives in 2005. That is an average of (842/52 weeks in a year) = 16 young people A WEEK!

I need to repeat that....16 young people a week.

My point is this, the recent media frenzy is LONG overdue.  This IS an epidemic.  But lets not forget those that lost the battle in the many years that we have been fighting to come out of the shadows.

I mourn for the families of all the children who believed that they weren't loved, or "normal", or even deserving of love.  More importantly, we should mourn all the children.  Not just the most recent ones.