The "End Victimization of LGBTQ Youth" community action meeting Thursday - open to the general public - aimed to bring awareness to the victimization and bullying of LGBTQ youth nationally.
On Sept. 22, 18 year-old Tyler Clementi of Rutgers University committed suicide after two students, Dharun Rhavi and Molly Wei, were charged with two counts each of invasion of privacy for filming Clementi during a sexual encounter with another man and proceeding to post it online.
Raymond Chase, an openly gay sophomore at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., took his life Sept. 29, although the circumstances leading to his death are still unclear.
California teen Seth Walsh hung himself after enduring bullying from his high-school classmates. He was 13.
Billy Lucas, 15, hung himself in his Indiana barn after his peers called him derogatory slurs just weeks into a new school year. Texas teen Asher Brown never reached high school - the 13 year-old middle-school student shot himself in the head after similar peer bullying.
These five suicides during the past three weeks ultimately were linked to "pervasive victimization" as a result of sexual orientation, meeting organizer Rachel Farr said.
Even locally, fourth-year College student Sean Bugg was physically assaulted on the Corner while walking home Sept. 18. University officials believe the attack was motivated by the student's sexual orientation.
The idea for a gathering originated from discussions held among Farr and other students, faculty and members of the community about these incidents. Those discussions led to the creation of a Facebook event, which spread until the event's expected numbers warranted a change in location from the Kaleidoscope Room to the more spacious Newcomb Ballroom.
Participants were divided into smaller groups to formulate strategies that would both raise awareness and provide resources to combat victimization. Ideas included establishing initiatives in local schools and communities as well as reaching out to state and local politicians and media outlets.
University alumna Laura Elizares led a discussion about establishing a "peaceful, action-oriented, community-engaging event." It is most important not to be "swept away by the loss," but to take action for prevention in the future, she noted.
Third-year College student Logan McClellan was encouraged that the meeting "was community action-oriented and not just coming to talk about how sad it is."
Farr announced that a vigil will be planned for Oct. 20 to honor the young people who took their lives after being bullied because of sexual orientation and asked for suggestions from those present about the venue and theme.
Medical student Edward Strickler noted that although suicides are the most obvious trend that warrant attention, self-inflicted wounds and attempted suicides are often less detected and serious issues afflicting struggling LGBT youth.
Attendants made plans for follow-up meetings to increase awareness of anti-gay bullying and strategies for reaching out to the community.
"I think that whenever a tragedy like this happens, it's important to honor lives lost and acknowledge that this is a crisis, but also to take the next steps. Any child lost is a child too many," Farr said.
Read More
Presidential search committee holds first meeting, introduces search firm
By Cecilia Mould | 10 hours agoBoard of Visitors Rector Rachel Sheridan also introduced external search firm Isaacson, Miller, which will assist the committee in their search for the University’s next permanent president.
Archivist Report on Jim Ryan
By Finn Trainer and Clara Franklin | YesterdayArchivists Finn Trainer and Clara Franklin recount Jim Ryan's tenure as the 9th President of the University.
Why did Student Council vote no confidence in the Board of Visitors?
By Lauren Seeliger | 3 days agoUltimately, Dickerson said during the Aug. 8 meeting that the decision to draft this resolution was not easy but was necessary so as to fulfill Student Council’s role.
