Tyler Clementi's body is identified

moment of silence in State Senate (0.00 / 0)

 

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Thu Sep 30, 2010 at 21:55:51 PM UTC

Three families are in pain (0.00 / 0)

As a parent of young adults, I can't help feeling that three families are suffering today.  In addition to the Clementi family, the families of the accused students must bear the pain of having their own children (1) hurt a classmate and that classmate's family so terribly; (2) damage their own life and future for a very long time.  This will be a big weight to carry for everyone involved.

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by: Kerr Lockhart @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 05:32:55 AM UTC

3 teenagers (4.00 / 1)

Yes, as a friend of mine messaged at facebook, it looks like those two jokesters ruined three lives - Tyler's, and their own.  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 11:46:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

A reminder that we all have a responsibility... (0.00 / 0)

Tyler's is only the latest death in what often feels like an epidemic of gay teen suicides prompted by bullying, harassment, and school violence. This week alone has seen suicides across the country. It's a reminder to every one of us, whether we have kids or not, that we can each do something so that all kids can make it to adulthood.

Many schools, such as the one where my partner teaches, have gay-straight alliances. Those groups can get the word out to all students, teachers and administrators that verbal and other forms of harassment are unacceptable and to be ever vigilant at the slightest signs of intimidation.

Those of us who are parents need to teach our kids to respect their gay classmates as equals just as surely as they should be taught to treat all their classmates with respect.

We all can be vigilant about hate speech and actions all around us and to interject every time we witness them.

We can contribute to the Trevor Project, which maintains a hotline for gay teens contemplating suicide.

And we can continue to press our elected representatives to walk the talk. While it might give some politicians some comfort to release press statements concerning how unacceptable it is to treat gay kids as less than equal, that talk is cheap so long as their actions in the legislature say otherwise.

We each can do something, no matter how small, to fight this epidemic of hopelessness among gay youth. Tyler's story is reminder that, for all the many cases of kids in less-tolerant parts of this country, this can still happen right here in New Jersey.

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by: Alex @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 12:23:48 PM UTC

Still at a loss for words (0.00 / 0)

Days later, this tragedy still feels too deep to capture with words.

I do hope the outpouring of support that has come too late for Tyler gives hope to other kids who are hurting from the hands and words and actions of individual bullies and from a society that still tells them they are second-class citizens.

You're not second class. None of you. And it will get better!

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by: Jeff Gardner @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 12:32:11 PM UTC

I too (0.00 / 0)

am still at a loss for words.

I do have a lot of thoughts about Tyler's life and death, but I cannot seem to turn them into coherent sentences.

Tyler has been described as a shy young man and a talented musician.  I believe he let his music speak for him.

Why not play music from his orchestral and, especially his solo pieces, Mahler and Mendelssohn - well just about everywhere?

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by: SmartyJones @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 15:39:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tragic (4.00 / 2)

As the survivor of a suicide attempt myself, I know how and why an LGBT person can be driven to suicide by the act or even just the prospect of being publicly outed.

The reality is that we don't live in a country that sees its LGBT citizens as equal under the law. Nor do we have a government that seeks to lead its people toward a more tolerant and accepting future, but rather eagerly plays upon these bigotries at election time for short-term political gain.

Perhaps if Obama and the Democrats (federal, state, and local) had made a real effort to address the issue instead of constantly running away from it as they always do, Tyler and other LGBTs would have been able to see some hope for the future and a reason to hang on.

Yes, that's right, I'm saying it: The cowardice of our government and of Democrats especially is a key contributing cause to LGBT suicides. These people have failed to even make a serious effort at creating a country and a society that values all of its citizens equally. The Party that ran on hope and change is in reality completely unwilling to effect change on our behalf and therefore is not creating but rather destroying hope in LGBT Americans, particularly in our youth.

When people don't feel their lives have value, when they don't see any hope that things will ever change for the better, that's when suicide begins to seem a viable option.

I know it because I've lived it. I managed to find a way to go on despite that reality, but many don't.

In a nutshell, it's time to make the point to the Democratic Party that their cowardice is not only costing us jobs but also lives. It's time for elected leaders to either lead or resign and get out of the way so real leaders can fill those seats. It's the only way that the next Tyler Clementi will be able to envision the kind of hope for himself and others like him that Democrats like to claim they represent for all Americans, but in practical reality only defend for straight people.

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by: Beckygrrl @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 16:37:07 PM UTC