Here are 2 articles that just came out from Rolling Stone Magazine. For those who think that gay people don't face discrimination from churches, religions and families - these will be eye opening, infuriating and make you sick. - Michelle Bachmann's hometown became so insane with religion that there are a high rate of teen suicides. REALLY. Read the excerpt of the 2nd article below and TEACH TOLERANCE, WELCOME ALL PEOPLE. - Rob and Tom
Another Educational Post: Rising Number of Homeless Gay Teens Cast Out
By Families
This is a sick and serious issue that so many (not all)
religious families have thrown their gay teenage children out on the
streets. These are really heartbreaking, horrifying stories- and the
people that do this to their own children in the name of any religion
are sick and unfit to be parents. - Just read some of these kids'
experiences. http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/the-forsaken-a-rising-number-of-homeless-gay-teens-are-being-cast-out-by-religious-families-20140903?page=4
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| This gay teen took his own life |
EVEN MORE INFURIATING- Michele Bachmann's town has sparked many Teen suicides: One Town's War on Gay Teens
In Michele Bachmann's home
district, evangelicals have created an extreme anti-gay climate. After a
rash of suicides, the kids are fighting back
Like many 13-year-olds, Brittany knew seventh grade was a living hell.
But what she didn't know was that she was caught in the crossfire of a
culture war being waged by local evangelicals inspired by their
high-profile congressional representative Michele Bachmann, who
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| David Phan, gay 14-year-old boy- suicide victim |
graduated from Anoka High School and, until recently, was a member of
one of the most conservative churches in the area. When Christian
activists who considered gays an abomination forced a measure through
the school board forbidding the discussion of homosexuality in the
district's public schools, kids like Brittany were unknowingly thrust
into the heart of a clash that was about to become intertwined with
tragedy.
Like Brittany, eighth-grader Samantha Johnson was a husky tomboy too,
outgoing with a big smile and a silly streak to match Brittany's own.
Sam was also bullied for her look – short hair, dark clothing, lack of
girly affect – but she merrily shrugged off the abuse. When Sam's
volleyball teammates' taunting got rough – barring her from the girls'
locker room, yelling, "You're a guy!" – she simply stopped going to
practice. After school, Sam would encourage Brittany to join her in
privately mocking their tormentors, and the girls would parade around
Brittany's house speaking in Valley Girl squeals, wearing bras over
their shirts, collapsing in laughter. They'd become as close as sisters
in the year since Sam had moved from North Dakota following her parents'
divorce, and Sam had quickly become Brittany's beacon. Sam was even
helping to start a Gay Straight Alliance club, as a safe haven for
misfits like them, although the club's progress was stalled by the
school district that, among other things, was queasy about the club's
flagrant use of the word "gay." Religious conservatives have called GSAs
"sex clubs," and sure enough, the local religious right loudly objected
to them. "This is an assault on moral standards," read one recent
letter to the community paper. "Let's stop this dangerous nonsense
before it's too late and more young boys and girls are encouraged to
'come out' and practice their 'gayness' right in their own school's
homosexual club."
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| this gay teen took his own life |
Brittany admired Sam's courage, and tried to mimic her insouciance
and stoicism. So Brittany was bewildered when one day in November 2009,
on the school bus home, a sixth-grade boy slid in next to her and asked
quaveringly, "Did you hear Sam said she's going to kill herself?"
Brittany considered the question. No way. How many times had she seen
Sam roll her eyes and announce, "Ugh, I'm gonna kill myself" over some
insignificant thing? "Don't worry, you'll see Sam tomorrow," Brittany
reassured her friend as they got off the bus. But as she trudged toward
her house, she couldn't stop turning it over in her mind. A boy in the
district had already committed suicide just days into the school year –
TJ Hayes, a 16-year-old at Blaine High School – so she knew such things
were possible. But
Sam Johnson? Brittany tried to keep the thought at bay. Finally, she confided in her mother.
"This isn't something you kid about, Brittany," her mom scolded,
snatching the kitchen cordless and taking it down the hall to call the
Johnsons. A minute later she returned, her face a mask of shock and
terror.
"Honey, I'm so sorry. We're too late," she said tonelessly as
Brittany's knees buckled; 13-year-old Sam had climbed into the bathtub
after school and shot herself in the mouth with her own hunting rifle.
No one at school had seen her suicide coming.
