Teen contributor to 'It Gets Better Project' takes his own life

On Sunday Sept 18th 14yr old Jamey Rodemeyer committed suicide.  Jamey had been questioning his sexuality and was constantly harassed for it, not only in school but online as well. He was told things such as "JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT ANND UGLY. HE MUST DIE!” and “I wouldn't care if you died. No one would. So just do it :) It would make everyone WAY more happier!”
Despite all he was going through Jamey still tried to make the world better for other people going through the same difficulties.  He participated in the 'It Gets Better Project' his video reaching over 700,000 views.  Unfortunately for Jamey it did not get better and during Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 4-10) he posted "No one in my school cares about preventing suicide, while you're the ones calling me [gay slur] and tearing me down."
"I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens, "What do I have to do so people will listen to me?"
Less than two weeks later he was found dead outside his New York home.  Police have decided to open a criminal investigation about the case and the Amherst Police Department's Special Victims Unit has said it will determine whether to charge some students with harassment, cyber-harassment or hate crimes. Police said three students in particular might have been involved.

When will we realize that despite our differences, no matter what they may be, that bullying just isnt an option anymore?  How many years will it take for us to stop seeing skin color, sexual prefence, religious views, etc.. and see the person underneath it all?  Are we just going to keep going in circles, because we were supposed to be better than this. One day when these ignorant kids grow up they're going lie awake in bed and realize the pain they've caused, old and alone they're going to realize that their hatered drove people to their death and I can promise that that will be worse than any punishment the law can dish out.  I know that I certainly wouldn't want to live with that on my shoulders, I can't imagine anyone would.


I leave you with Jamey's video and one final thought: If it were you being treated this way, or your sister/brother/best friend, would you stand by and watch them become so worn down and alone that the only option for them is to take their own life, or would you stand up and do something? 
http://www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject#p/f/13/-Pb1CaGMdWk
 

Recap Of God H8's

Here’s a recap of the way we feel about the video we posted earlier today. After watching the video again the only thing we can say that makes any sense is this. The people of The Westboro Baptist Church who made this video are uneducated and looking to create drama. They are more of a cult than they are a church. Obviously this is easy to see because they are trying to tell you how God feels. They’re telling you God hates all of these people when the bible clearly states that God hates no one. If anything “God H8’s” people who try to claim they know the thoughts of God and those who hurt people with their words. This is a “church” that is only looking to start drama because they have nothing better to do. If they were a real church they wouldn’t be wasting their time making childish videos with parody music and calling gay people “Fags” like a teenage bully. I only have a few things to the people who participated in this video. Get a life and get a clue. No one cares about your judgment and it’s not your place to be telling people what your uneducated minds think is right. Thanks for your effort on this dense and incorrect video. I’ll make sure to attend the Razzie’s when your video is chosen to win worst movie of the year. 

~A&L

GodH8's

I am truly disgusted.  I have so many things to say about this video that I don't even know where to start.  Instead I'll let you all decide for yourselves what to think and perhaps I will comment another day.




"The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;"
Daniel 9:9 New International Version
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

It Gets Better

http://www.youtube.com/itgetsbetterproject

A video channel that provides support and encouragement to gay teens who face adversity, discrimination and bullying in high school.

Created by Dan Savage and his husband, each video will feature a role model sharing personal experiences that illustrate that life for gays and lesbians improves beyond high school.  He’s also soliciting videos from fans who want to provide support and encouragement to gay teens who face adversity, discrimination and bullying in high school.
This is their debut video:



~A&L

85 Nations Agree: Gay People Deserve Protection From Discrimination

On March 22, 2011 eighty five nations joined together and signed a statement appropriately titled: “Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based On Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.”  Up 15 nations from the latest attempt in 2008, this updated version includes many references not seen in either of the previous statements, including; welcoming attention to LGBT issues as a part of the Universal Periodic Review process, noting the increased attention to LGBT issues in regional human rights fora, encouraging the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue addressing LGBT issues, and calls for states to end criminal sanctions based on LGBT status.
Not only did the statement address basic human rights such as expressing "concern at continued evidence in every region of acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity brought to the Council’s attention by Special Procedures since that time, including killings, rape, torture and criminal sanctions"; but also praised the advances and developments in solving these issues over recent years. Though not everyone signed the statement, ie...Nigeria (invoking heterosexuality, God, and saying that both men and women are needed to make babies), Russia, and Pakistan, whom spoke on behalf of the 57 nations in which Muslim people are a majority.  Countries that did sign the statement include: Paraguay, Ukraine, Uruguay, the United States, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Switzerland.

Though it's terrible that we live in a world where treating other people with kindness and equality needs to be forced upon us, it's definitely great to see that there are so many people on board with this Declaration of Human Rights.  As the United Nations Secretary General reminded us in his address in January 2011, "the Universal Declaration guarantees all human beings their basic rights without exception, and when individuals are attacked, abused or imprisoned because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the international community has an obligation to respond."

You can read the statement itself at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/03/158847.htm




A&L