Belize LGBT Activists Mount Historic Challenge to Anti-Gay Laws

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
December 1, 2011

A November 16, 2011 Guardian newspaper report announced a new challenge in Belize to its anti-gay laws. The legal suit is the first contest by a new human rights organization that intends to overturn all post-UK former colonies that have laws criminalizing homosexuality. "The Human Dignity Trust (HDT), which launched its campaign in London on Thursday, is targeting the 80-odd states where consensual sexual activity between adults of the same gender is outlawed. More than half are Commonwealth countries which inherited their regulations from British colonial rule. In some like Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon and Ghana the laws are seen by some as justification for violent attacks on gay and lesbian people."

(photo right: for tourists Belize is a paradise; for gays it is less than that.)

Not surprising, Belize's Anglican, evangelical, and Catholic 'spiritual leaders' have united to oppose the effort. They will announce their objections in a court hearing this week. As if to add injury to insult they insist they have evidence that homosexuality can be 'cured'--against all scientific studies to the contrary. It will be a contest between intelligent modern thinking and archaic religious bigotry.

It is endlessly frustrating to read the same old, absurd and morally-twisted arguments of such people as Belize Catholic bishop Dorick Wright, Anglican bishop Philip Wright and Evangelical Rev Eugene Crawford in Belize City. These supposed 'good Christians' are quoted as saying, "the people of Belize will not surrender our constitution, our moral foundations, and our way of life to predatory foreign interests."

Indeed! These are the very ones who are devoid of moral foundation in their modern use of ancient books of ambivalent religious mystery that have no factual source or verifiable accuracy; they justify their bigotry purely on prejudicial misinterpretations and mistranslations of alleged scriptures that were in fact 'invented' by highly fallible writers (with no acknowledgement of dissenting views) and politically imposed upon an ancient nomadic populace who could not read or write, hence violating their native animist belief system. (photo left: courthouse in Belize City)

It is a pathetic miscarriage of Christian justice to use such fragmented, unreliable, multiply-translated, man-made, opinionated and selected bits of 'scripture' as a basis for a guide to daily life nearly two thousand years later. These old texts are about as accurate and truthful for today's science-based life as using ancient Egyptian pharonic scribblings on medical procedures as a guide for surgery today. Would anyone in their right mind allow a physician schooled in these antique lessons to perform life-saving procedures to heal injuries or disease?! For the same reasoning, how do modern religious believers follow equally archaic words?

It takes a huge leap of blind foolishness to state in a modern public forum such prejudicial ignorant opinions against scientifically verified aspects regarding human sexuality. Homosexual behavior is an inherent variety of human nature that has existed in every society that's ever emerged on the planet. There is no sound verification of homosexuality being 'imported' or forced on a people from alien sources.
(photo right: activist Caleb Oroczo, head of UniBam--leading the court suit against the government)

Modern 'thinkers' who claim spiritual leadership would do well to go back to deeper research and investigation into their alleged sources in culture and language. There, if they have the intellectual open-mindedness, will they not find any specific reference or rule regarding the sexual nature of human beings, other than some comments on marriage. Modern religious bigotry against homosexuality has no true scriptural standing. Prejudice is just that--opinion without truth.

And speaking of "predatory foreign interests", it was the Christian armies, missionaries and inquisition that targeted violence against peoples of other territories, tribes and cultures in the mad crusade of 'saving the heathen' from their native beliefs and worship rituals, which had served them well enough for thousands of years.

Shame, shame on Catholic bishop Dorick Wright, the Anglican bishop Philip Wright and the evangelical Rev Eugene Crawford. Let's hope their irrational hateful beliefs are crushed under the truth and science of modern enlightened thinking.

In front of the Anglican cathedral in Belize City there is a 'peace post' with the inscription: May peace prevail on Earth. Let's hope this bit of hypocrisy reverses to become a reality. (photo left)

Read more about LGBT life in Belize here.

Irresponsible Recommendation for Uganda from Lonely Planet

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
November 5, 2011

Well, this is pretty revolting!

Lonely Planet, the widely-respected travel information and guidebook company has chosen one of the world's most homophobic and gay-violent countries as their number one pick for "Best in Travel" listings for 2012 --Uganda, Africa. A country where human rights should more correctly be called religious fundamentalist rights or in-power political rights or corrupt police rights.

Surely the Lonely Planet committee that picked this country out of many other more humane destinations were aware of the abysmal violations of its citizens and especially the LGBT (gay) population. Uganda already criminalizes consensual adult same-sex behavior and more recently the Parliament is dithering with a new law that would penalize such behavior with the death penalty--including jail time for anyone who knows of homosexual behavior and does not report it.

Around the world, other countries have threatened to cut off foreign aid to Uganda if the bill passes. All major human rights organizations as well as the UN, UK Prime Minister Cameron, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu and President Obama oppose this egregious proposal.

Where is Lonely Planet's head to value human abuse over human dignity. With the abundance of knowledge that LP has about Uganda this is no mere oversight. Diminishing the horrors there by referring to them merely as "issues" in the abstract (as said in their blog) only makes LP seem more the blind fool who is indifferent to the wide-spread persecution and abuse going on there. Clearly wild animals and pretty waterfalls in Uganda--wonderful as they are--cannot count for more than human conditions there.

Lonely Planet says, "stability is returning and it won’t be long before visitors come flocking back." Not true. The appearance of stability is due to the stranglehold that President Museveni on political power. His presidency has been impaired by invading and occupying Congo during the Second Congo War (which has resulted in an estimated 5.4 million deaths since 1998) as well as conflicts in the Great Lakes region. Rebellion in the north of Uganda by the Lord's Resistance Army continues to perpetuate one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Museveni also manipulated the parliament to abolish presidential term limits in 2006 and has harassed the democratic opposition. (photo right, rural children)

Lonely Planet says, "Human rights abuses aren’t uncommon, and the country breathes a collective sigh whenever President Museveni thinks of another ruse to stay in power for a few more years." This is a myopic an distorted view of life on the ground. Human rights abuses are not "aren’t uncommon". This double negative mutes the real brutality that is launched on gay people, political opponents, tribal minorities and the impoverished. And only the military, religious right and the corrupt welcome more years of Museveni. as if 26 years in office are not enough repression and flawed elections. Human Rights Watch criticizes Uganda for unlawful prosecutions of civilians in military courts as well as health neglect, hard labor, and abuse in Ugandan prisons.

Lonely Planet needs to remove Uganda from it's list of favored tourist nations. At the very least, move it to the bottom of the list.

If anyone doubts this reasoning, let them read the following 55--and growing--news and reports archived by GlobalGayz.com; and these are only for 2011. The archive goes back to 2002:
Gay Uganda News & Reports 2011 Sep-Dec
Gay Uganda News & Reports 2011 May-Aug
Gay Uganda News & Reports 2011 Jan-Apr

Jamie and Jamey: Gay Youth Bullied to Death

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
October 2011

Yet two more teen suicides spurred on by high school bullying and harassment from peers. (Read previous blog on gay teen suicides.)

Last month, 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer killed himself in Buffalo, N.Y., after years of homophobic harassment. (photo right)

Last week in Ottowa, Canada 13 year-old Jamie Hubley took his life. He too was taunted and ridiculed, in this case because he preferred dance to football, art instead of mechanics. There is no apparent evidence that Hubley was gay or displayed homosexual tendencies in public.

But it doesn't take that to ignite an immature homophobe to action; mere suspicion, innuendo and peer presumption is enough to make a strong case against a child who is not fully 'macho' and make him an easy target for scorn and cruel language.

What is it about homosexuality that inspires hate, injury and an intent to kill? An innocent soft artsy-type of kid minding his own business is mowed down by assaultive insulting language and he succumbs? Evil is often beyond a reasonable answer. (photo left Jamie Hubley with his father)

The unseen problem in the It Gets Better crusade is that it often gets worse before better as helpless children are sucked into a maelstrom of anguish depression and turbulent confusion where it's impossible to feel assured of a less painful outcome a year or three later.

How do we take hold of a sinking fragile ego and brace it, anchor it against the terrible angst of peer scorn--often anonymous over the Internet from senders who hide--knowing their attack is shameful and cruel.

I say first and foremost yank the kid out of his or her school and transplant them to a safer place. Don't wait while your child is in pain. Find another school, a charter school, private school, home schooling, internet courses...

The second step is to fight back; mount a very public protest against the school, in newspapers, social media, radio and TV interviews condemning the hate crime of bullying.

The third is to use the force of law and court action to threaten back the individuals and system that tolerates crime. Many Catholic priests and the church itself are now under assault for tolerating child abuse. This is no different. Use the technology the internet against the perpetrators to uncover their identity and eject them from school and bring charges. Hate crime should be handled like physical assault. Identify and prosecute both the kid and their parents.

Then demand the school system mount a high awareness program against the crime and evil of bullying, compelling every student to attend assemblies where speakers and victims and bullies tell their stories. Empower kids to go public against bullies, expose them and make them the shamed ones--and then offer them and their families counseling that may hopefully change behavior by deeper understanding of the harm and crime of bullying.

Bring bullying out of it's bullied kids become the hidden closet and make it a public nuisance so that victims become victors and perpetrators become the fearful one begging for mercy--and given it.

Jamie Hubley and Jamie Rodemeyer should be alive and proud boys not motionless victims.

Read more about gay teen bullying and suicide:
-http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/10/21/hundreds-mourn-gay-canadian-teenager-jamie-hubley/
-http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1073942--gay-students-endure-cycle-of-hate-in-schools
-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toan-lam/bullied-teen-posts-it-get_b_1022753.html
-http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/a-year-after-teen-suicide-spate-more-gay-students-are-speaking-out-schools-taking-action/2011/10/22/gIQAD5rv6L_story.html
-http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/22/2467455/on-the-road-to-equality.html

How Far Away is Hope For LGBT People?

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
September 1, 2011

As I travel the world interviewing LGBT people about their lives, their cultures and countries I hear stories of effort, strategy, frustration and achievement. One question I have failed to ask these courageous activists, some risking their lives, is "how far away is hope?"

How far away is hope for equality, tolerance, acceptance, relationship recognition, political participation, religious compassion, social calmness...? And what is keeping it in the ever seemingly receding distance?

Another way to ask the question is how long will it take humankind to unlearn the teachings of religion against human sexuality. Indeed, can humanity unlearn something so ingrained in mind from religious prohibitions against sexuality--period. This most human of appetites is the most proscribed against.

The desire for another person is diminished by using the word sex; it reduces it to a genital activity when in truth there are more significant needs that are desired.

Even in the 'crass' exchange of money-for-sex , the so-called "world's oldest profession," there is good reason for that title. The desire for sexual intimacy has become hard-wired in our brains over milennia, beyond the instinct to procreate. With the developing mind becoming more learned by acquiring knowledge and sophisticated systems for survival, came also an increase in more sophisticated desire called intimacy, mental contact, emotional affection, nurturing, warmth, touch...

This want runs so deep that people will kill for it. Crimes of passion are a common occurrence in 'civilized' humanity, some resort to murder when it is frustrated , denied or betrayed.

The challenging question is, given this core aspect of human nature why is it that the religious/spiritual thought/belief systems that have emerged recently, over two or three thousand years, have become so antagonistic toward a human's fundamental need for intimacy and sexual desire? And why/where/when has come this fanatical obsession to reject, discriminate, punish or kill people whose desire for intimacy leans toward their own gender?

It is one of the greatest paradoxes that such an essential trait has become so stigmatized, sometimes to the degree that torture and murder feel justified in an effort to eliminate it.

How far away is hope? About as far away as modern human sexuality is from the human truth that people are different; people are born straight, gay and in-between.

Homophobes refuse to see this truth and prefer to cling instead to their hostile opinions; they refuse to see these opinions as imaginary fabricated beliefs made up by a (very) few tribal men and scribbled down--for what reason scribbled down?--despite their own inherent human desire for intimacy. Why would these early scribes 'legislate' or opine against their own nature? At the time, the reasons were likely less religious than political. Indeed, were they in fact writing about intimacy and sexuality at all or something more public--the various language translations and the inevitable changes of word meanings, in addition to the uncertain original meanings, have obscured the initial intent.

So the current anathema against homosexual desire continues unabated, unexamined, unintelligent and has little to do with any kind of divine source. Simplicity is dangerous in the minds of ignorant people who will not look beyond their own fears. Gay people are not some modern scourge; same-sex desire is not a recent 'problem'. Ancient attitudes about homosexuality are not authoritatively known. It's claimed the Bible is the 'word of god' without realizing there were many gods back then. Was there a God of gods who took a consensus and decided that sex had to be confined and controlled and homesex was a no-no? The questions into the past become ludicrous the further back we look and try to think clearly.

How far away is hope? Fortunately modern civilization has improved in certain countries--in fits and starts, stumbling along but for the better--so that things like democracy, equality and human rights have taken root and helped create an international judicial belief system that parallels the religious system. Judicial thought and action has begun to turn back the excesses and abuses of religion and forwarded human rights as an equal and better way of managing civilization. Slowly in one country after another, officially sanctioned legal decisions have blocked religious persecution (in the guise of discriminatory political statutes) from advancing further against homosexually-inclined citizens.

Slowly, gays rights have become part of the fabric of human rights as one bias after another is being taken down: gay relationships are legal, gay marriage is legal (and published in the New York Times); gays in the military will soon be legal; discrimination in jobs, housing, health care and inheritance are illegal; child adoption by gay couples is legal... All of which were opposed and prayed about by religious institutions. (Imagine praying to one's God on behalf of discrimination and bigotry!)

How far away is hope? In Zimbabwe or Iran it is far distant. In Holland, UK or, unevenly, in USA hope has already arrived.

A Shining Moment for LGBT Gay Rights

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
July 25, 2011

I've never seen anything like it.

A gay deluge in the media: gay marriage in NY; mainstream gay-theme films; congressional approval of an openly gay federal gay judge; children of gays; Obama's administration's removal of support for DOMA; major newspaper editorials applauding gay marriage; an historic UN resolution, in June 2011, condemning discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation; imminent repeal of DADT in the military; the opening of the week-long North American OutGames (gay olympics) in Vancouver; the highly visible 'It Gets Better' anti-bullying national project; the newly digitized Gay and Lesbian Review; and just this week, the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) granted consultative status to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)...

There seems a current tsunami of social change, a cultural jump, a sudden leap into a new world (or part of it), a more humanistic world of civility, a world more aware, of progress against entrenched and angry prejudice against LGBT citizens.

Not to sugar-coat this unique phenomenon: there are still murders, violence and discrimination a-plenty around the world; a teenager in California is on trial for murdering a gay classmate; anti-gay protests in the USA against gay marriage; presidential candidates publicly airing their homophobic views; Focus on the Family anti-gay group distorting research at a congressional hearing (and getting caught); Michelle Bachman's connection to a gay-cure clinic; the Nigerian women’s soccer team claims homosexuality is eradicated among players...

But for now there is a shining moment when hope for a decent equitable society seems possible, appears happening, in America at least, as loving couples are given the freedom and right to marry and gay sexual orientation becomes a source of pride and a cause to celebrate our lives as good citizens, parents, professionals, military troops, judges and members of a country that makes humane things possible.

It is a moment a long time coming through terrible oppression, brutality and ignorance when gays were treated like animals. It is a long time coming from that to this recent (7-24-11) editorial comment in the New York Times:

"There are very few positions more repugnant than advocating intolerance."

An Open Letter to the Health Minister of India Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad

By Vivek Divan
GayBombayGroup
July 06, 2011


Dear Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Health Minister of India
It appears you need a dose of enlightenment since your recent statements
on homosexuality smack of either ignorance, misinformation or rank
prejudice. I hope that this missive serves that purpose, although I am
doubtful. On the other hand, I hope that it shames you.

I know what shame is like, having lived most of my life in a world that
never understood a core part of me — my sexuality. For your
irresponsibility you deserve no part in the governance of a nation that
prides itself on tolerance and diversity. Your bosses should dismiss you
immediately, but I have a feeling they won’t.

It is hard to imagine that you are the health minister of India. I imagine
that responsibility entails in its very essence promoting the well-being of
all Indians. And not consigning some of them to the margins and fueling
hatred and disgust against them.

What a travesty, especially since your humbug is directed against a
community, which has, in its attempt to emancipate itself, done nothing but
subscribe to the highest ideals that India’s Constitution aspires to — by
using democratic judicial processes to seek equality and understanding,
protesting their plight through non-violent means founded in free speech and
expression, and by working painstakingly within the community to alleviate
the impact of serious health problems such as HIV and social issues like
violence.

We haven’t attempted to bribe or use inflammatory language and tactics. We
have based our struggles on sound knowledge, on the unceasing appreciation
that there is a humanity in all persons, which will eventually locate the
truth. Not on the cronyism that must come ‘naturally’ to you.

And you call us ‘diseased’. If anything, you are deficient — in your
knowledge, your humanity and your responsibility as a servant of the people.
Tell us Mr Azad — what have you done to serve us as health minister of
India? What has been your commitment to ensure that India’s response to HIV
is at the cutting edge of science and entrenched in inclusiveness? Instead
of using diversionary tactics by inciting pointless hatred, what have you
done to improve public health in India so that states are coaxed to ensure
that hospitals, primary health centres and medical practitioners aspire to
the core values of this essential service?

While economic indicators bode well for the nation’s progress, health
indicators paint an entirely different picture to which you seem to be
blind. What are you doing about maternal mortality, dear sir? Some 100,000
women die from pregnancy-related causes each year — more than anywhere else
in the world. And what are you willing to do to rise above the votebank
politics that you and your ilk engage in?

You have said that homosexuality has been imported from the West. Well,
apart from the phenomenal ignorance that such a statement reeks of, you
should also know that many other things are imported from the West including
a vast amount of the resources used in the name of ‘development’ and
parliamentary democracy of which you are a part of.

Homosexuality is as intrinsic to India as, say, the corruption your
colleagues indulge in. In which case, why don’t we consign your tainted
colleagues to the scrapheap? The nation would be a far better place.

Link: http://www.hindusta ntimes.com/ / Article1- 718146.aspx

More Anti-Gay Distortions and Lies From Another Church

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
July 18, 2011

The following editorial is from 'The Trumpet', an online newsletter of the Church of God, regarding the California law that requires some gay history to be included in public school education curricula:

"Landmark law reveals that the war against family is intensifying"

--"California’s public schools will be required to teach students about the contributions of homosexual Americans beginning on January 1, 2012, after Gov. Jerry Brown (photo right) signed a landmark bill June 16, 2011 requiring the material to be added to social studies textbooks and curricula...

--"The California Family Council said that since the material is not part of a sexual education' class, parents will not have an opting-out option, and will not be told beforehand about classes teaching the new material...

--"Opponents were upset with Brown’s decision to sign the bill, and questioned whether instruction about homosexuals in public schools is necessary. “If children in other countries are learning math and science, and American children are learning about the private lives of historical figures, how will our students compete for jobs in the global economy?” said Sen. Sharon Runner.

--"The most basic building block of a strong and stable civilization is the traditional family structure, and this law represents the latest in a long list of assaults against it...

--"In 1976 Herbert Armstrong (photo right) wrote of a “'widespread and aggressive conspiracy to destroy the institution of marriage... Every subtle method is being employed to capture the minds of those of pre-marriage age'”

--"Clearly, minds back then were captured and attacked. Now they are 35 years older and have raised another generation even more deceived about traditional marriage and family."

My reply:
Show me one scrap of evidence that society is worse off for tolerating homosexuals, offering them equal rights, allowing them to enter loving relationships; show me one scrap that heterosexual marriage is worse off due to gay marriage; show me one scrap that children are really at risk from having a gay teacher or being taught about gay contributors to our great society.

I point to Arnold Schwarzenager, Newt Gingrich, John Edwards, Mark Sanford (gov. of South Carolina), Ted Haggard, Jimmy Swaggert, Paul Barnes, Earl Paulk, Joe Barron, JFK, Rudi Guilliani, Tiger Woods and more than a few others.
The list of heterosexual marriage destroyers goes on into history, not to mention the countless Catholic priests who have defiled families by child abuse.

Cease with these brainless bigoted attacks on respectable gay citizens.

The Bible is Propaganda--Bring Me Science

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
July 10, 2011

Ya gotta love the old guy who said this:

"We should not accept religious literature instead of scientific report." The Delhi High Court bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah remarked in response to a Solicitor General who cited an article condemning gay sex by quoting the Bible.

"These are not scientific reports. These are articles quoting Bible which is a propaganda. Your arguments should be based on scientific reports. Show us scientific reports which justify criminalisation of such acts (gay sex)," the Times of India quoted the Bench.

If only other national courts and legislatures would listen to such wisdom we would have societies dominated more by humanistic values than by religious bigotry and irrational political opinions.

Carry on Chief Justice A P Shah!

And may your words be heard around this troubled gay-hating world. Human development cannot progress forward with one foot stuck in gross ignorance, fear and hatred--against any minority.

Link to the Times of India story here.

Homophobia--Win a Few, Lose a Lot, Win a Few More

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
July 5, 2011

Sunday's New York Times (online, July 3) featured four articles about homosexuality in America--on the front page.

In the context of a recent wave of gay issues in the media (Governor Cuomo wins the NY gay marriage vote (photo right); Rhode Island approves civil unions; New Jersey's governor rejects gay marriage; the debate over DADT and DOM legislation; gay divorce; Republican presidential candidates taking positions on all these and the usual Catholic homophobia, etc.) this is not surprising, especially in the 'gay month' of June Pride. In one of these stories, no less a respected person than the NYT executive editor Bill Keller stated in a Sunday Magazine essay: "the move toward legalization of same-sex marriage in America had become inexorable."

Noble and affirmative and welcome as this position is, it's easy to take such comments in stride, here in media-blitzed, east coast, big city with a flamboyant gay parade, a governor and mayor out front, gay TV pop talent stars, gay Broadway plays. The present seems saturated with gay issues, which even President Obama is actively pondering ("evolving"), urged along by numerous gay people on his staff, to arrive at politically correct and humanistic positions toward his gay constituents. Clearly the cause is great and the struggle for equality goes on, step by step, city and state by city and state.

But we must not get too far ahead of the frontline in this culture war, which sometimes can be fatal to the 'special forces' of the gay movement. Surrounding, these mostly positive Times reports, are many more not so positive stories and postings that have come across my desk in the past few weeks, sent in from various countries including the USA:

Russia: June 25, 2011
About a dozen gay people were arrested and jailed for trying to hold a small gay Pride rally in Moscow. Police detained two groups of activists protesting their lack of rights in two central districts of the city. An Associated Press photographer saw unidentified individuals attack the demonstrators, trying to seize their banners before police moved in.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/25/russia-gay-pride-demonstrators-attacked-detained-_n_884510.html#s298183

Turkey: June 26, 2011
Thousands of Turks marched through Istanbul in a demonstration calling for improved rights and greater social acceptance for the country's homosexual community... as transgendered people continue to be murdered.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/06/26/turkey.gay.pride/index.html

Slovenia: July 18, 2011
A British police officer has spoken of his terror after being beaten by a gang of vicious thugs brandishing metal batons in a shocking homophobic attack. The gay officer was attacked while on holiday in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana by six or seven men who took exception to his sexuality.
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/crime/gay_policeman_victim_of_horrific_homophobic_attack_in_slovenia_1_2787331?commentssort=1

China: April 6, 2011
A weekend raid at a club in Shanghai was a stark reminder of what can happen when homophobia meets the all-too-heavy hand of the law. Shanghaiist reports: Early Sunday morning, police stormed into Q Bar in the middle of a go-go boy performance, turned the lights on, and shoved about 70 bar employees and patrons (save the foreigners) batch by batch into a minivan that whittled them away to the Xiaodongmen police station, just a stone's throw away from the bar. The state-backed Shanghai Daily said the bar was targeted "after complaints that it was staging sex shows". This was vigorously denied by the bar's owner.
http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/04/06/party-police-cops-raid-gay-bar-in-shanghai/#ixzz1R65yzcsY

Vietnam: May 21, 2011
Every day in Vietnam, stigma, discrimination and violence threaten the basic constitutional rights of gay men, including access to the information, products and services that they need for their well-being. There is a special concern regarding MSM’s access to HIV services, as HIV prevalence among MSM was 14% in 2009.
http://en.baomoi.com/Home/society/hanoitimes.com.vn/Vietnam-speaks-out-on-International-Day-against-Homophobia/145146.epi

USA: July 2, 2011
Governor Lincoln Chafee signed a civil unions bill into law, making Rhode Island the fifth after Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware and Hawaii to recognize gay and lesbian couples with civil unions.
As a result, Thomas Tobin, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, has barred gay Catholics from entering a civil union:
“I am deeply disappointed that Rhode Island will establish civil unions in our state,” he wrote in The Rhode Island Catholic. “The concept of civil unions is a social experiment that promotes an immoral lifestyle, is a mockery of the institution of marriage as designed by God, undermines the well-being of our family and poses a threat to religious liberty...Because civil unions promote an unacceptable lifestyle, undermine the faith of the Church on holy matrimony, and cause scandal and confusion, Catholics may not participate in civil unions. To do so is a very grave violation of the moral law and, thus, seriously sinful. A civil union can never be accepted as a legitimate alternative to matrimony.”
http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=8841&MediaType=1&Category=26

Uganda: May 11, 2011
Uganda's parliament on Wednesday delayed debate on a controversial bill that once proposed the death penalty for some gays and lesbians, but officials suggested lawmakers could take up the matter on Friday. [They did not.] U.S. and world leaders and rights groups have denounced the bill in recent months in hopes parliament would reject it. Internet petitions have gathered more than 1.4 million signatures. The bill was first proposed in 2009 but has been avoided in parliament.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42990706/ns/world_news-africa/t/uganda-anti-gay-bill-delayed-after-outcry/

South Africa: June 29, 2011
Lesbian South Africans are living in fear as rape and murder become a daily threat in the townships they call home. Noxolo Nkosana, 23, is the latest victim of a series of violent attacks against lesbians. She was stabbed a stone's throw from her home in Crossroads township, Cape Town, as she returned from work one evening with her girlfriend. The two men - one of whom lives in her community - started yelling insults. "They were walking behind us. They just started swearing at me screaming: 'Hey you lesbian, you tomboy, we'll show you,'" Ms Nkosana tells the BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13908662

There are few issues on the world stage more divisive than homosexuality. It is a fiery flashpoint in modern societies around the world, often hateful, sometimes murderous, always conflicted. Fueled primarily by religious bigotry that relies on ancient mythological 'holy' books, this is one culture war that may never go away since those old books are not about to be re-written--despite the fact that they indeed were originally written by unknown mortals living in primitive times.

Imagine if we used medical books from the middle ages to guide modern treatments. But religion is not science, which is based on facts and reality, and like politics people can hold whatever irrational views they want just because they want to and attribute their views to a religious doctrine or scripture, base on vague history, magical myth and entrenched hearsay. Bringing rationality into religion is like mixing oil with water. Nothing in nature or super-nature can ever cause them to blend. Rationality, religion and human sexuality will never be blended and will always be major hindrances and blind spots to civilization reaching its full potential; light and dark make gray in which one cannot see forward or backward.

Gay Marriage Opponents Pray to Loving God for Bigotry

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
June 25, 2011

Recent news reports have posted this story:

Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic archbishop of New York (photo right), on Sunday prayed for the defeat of a gay marriage bill in the Empire State. During Sunday's prayer service at St. Patrick's cathedral in New York City, Dolan said: “Any presumption to redefine that sacred vocabulary, I'm afraid is at our common peril."

After his unsuccessful plea apparently fell on deaf divine ears, and the vote to approve gay marriage was passed, opponents of the ruling were seen praying in the state house in Albany, one holding a rosary in his hand.

So, I wonder just what all these prayers say; perhaps this:

Dear (Christian) God in heaven, I beseech you to inspire our legislators (including the Jews, non-believers and non-practicing theists among them) to resist the equality measures being imposed on us that propose to treat all citizens alike, to offer free choice of relationship form and bond.
Please do not let the radical liberal gay agenda foist human dignity and 'pursuit of happiness' upon our sexist, patriarchal, discriminatory ecclesiastical and idolatrous traditions (that protect dirty secrets of child abuse).
Please don't let them misuse the issues of love and compassion to persuade legislators to vote for fairness and legal equality. Don't let long-term gay and lesbian couples committed together for 30, 40 or 50 years deter you from seeing such illicit relationships as sinful, immoral or diseased. And move especially against happy young couples since it can only lead to debauchery and disease.
Please see the truth of these fervent homophobic prayers and intercede directly into the minds of those secularist senators who live too much in this progressive era of human rights, with "liberty and justice for all". Amen
(Photo right: Richard Adrian Dorr and John Mace, together 61 years)

A Child is Born, the Torch is Passed

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
May 15, 2011

Within 24 hours last week a dear friend's mother died of old age and my nephew and wife gave birth to a baby boy. There may be something profound in this cycle of life and death but I'm not sure. Is it just human anatomy changing forms? Is it an exchange of energy fields unknowable to us? Is it anything at all beyond itself?

Wiggly considerations aside, it all seemed irrelevant for a while this afternoon as I held the three day old critter in my arms, holding his little softball-sized head from flopping to the side, his sweet lips puckering and pursing, tiny nostrils breathing in the spring air, an occasional lifting of his lids to reveal his blue eyes not yet focused on what's around. His tiny fist held close to his mouth--the mouth that sought lunch from mom a while later, first from the left breast then the right. Suckling silently.

So incredibly vulnerable is the birthing days of a human being, the most endowed creature on the planet but the most helpless to start. And, ultimately and not sadly, helpless as the rest of us breeding and feeding, making and thinking, learning skills and gaining wisdom on the planet.

In an ideal world I would feel hope for this child to be nourished, directed and able to choose honesty and compassion as his life motifs, but the world he is headed into gives me pause. For all the wonderment of his birth there is caution in his future as I could feel it in my heart as I held his soft pink head.

As a 'gay uncle' I know first hand the evils that overtake once-healthy youthful minds and bend them into hateful homophobia. I hear the twisted talk of many (not all) religious leaders who are supposed to guide us toward a more loving world while declaring my personal way of being as an "inherent moral evil." I see the blindness of ethnic and racial madness that slaughters millions. I read of the cruel financial corruption in big enterprise. I know the ferocious humiliation of poverty and the toxic indifference of wealth.

This is not the world I want my nephew to learn from--yet he will.

As an antidote, I want him to learn the names of the trees around him (as my grandmother taught me) to study the planets, to learn the language of the sea, the sounds of the forest on a rainy night, the adagios of Mahler, the vibe of OM, to learn stillness in the great arc of his life and his death.

William Wordsworth's 1802 sonnet 'The World is Too Much With Us' laments the crushing world of materialism and cynicism then--and marks our present civilization:
The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon...
The poet's great lament is today's lament. He longs for a more natural way of being, in harmony with nature, adorned with benevolent mystery.

So too will I, as I can, lean this new child toward benevolence and nature and great art--but also advise him how to be wise in the world, to defend again too much "getting and spending". And own a good dog, like Heather and Bing.

Africa and Homosexuality: Is It Natural and Native?

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
April 10, 2011

On March 5 this year the British Broadcasting Company, always looking for unusual or controversial subject matter to entertain its audience, found spice in sponsoring a debate about homosexuality in Africa. It's a topic that is guaranteed to stir up dissonance and disagreement and, true to form, the televised 'discussion' indeed did just that. With a hand-picked audience of pro-gay and anti-gay activists from across Africa the stage was carefully set to hear rational and emotional arguments about same-sex orientation and behavior.

To me it felt rather like a staged carnival show with pre-set performers revealing (and some shouting) their reasons and biases for or against an imagined 'gay agenda' in Africa.

(Photos: protests outside the BBC studios during the debate)

The official title of the debate was "Is Homosexuality Un-African?" With five panelists (listed below), three pro-gay and two anti-gay, the underlying message was pre-set, appropriately in my mind, to help enclose gay rights into a larger frame of human rights. The moderator, Zeinab Badawi , made an effort to be polite to the homophobes--including panelist David Bahati, author of Uganda's proposed death-to-gays legislation.

Despite anti-gay comments from certain audience members who repeated the usual 'unnatural--man4woman--sinful--child-recruitment--procreation' arguments against homosexuals, the slant was clear. Leading African lesbian and gay activists in the audience were given turns to speak against the anti-gay arguments--including Monica Tabengwa whose group LeGaBiBo in Botswana is suing the government for its alleged unconstitutional statutes against homosexuality.

The positive flavor of the program was not unexpected since the UK (home of the BBC) has become one of the most pro-gay countries in the modern world, along with South Africa. The UK requires its world-wide ambassadors to advocate equality and human rights. (It should, as penance, since it was the 19th and early 20th century British Empire laws that criminalized homosexuality and set the stage for today's world-wide homophobia to take root in many former colonies.)

At the end of the debate Bahati said he was leaving the debate and South Africa "with a bleeding heart" meaning he was disheartened by hearing opposing views; he is not going to be dissuaded from his arch-homophobic attitude or his legislation no matter what reasoned or personal testimony he encounters. So the social disease of homophobia continues to be spread.

Someone should have said to him "now you know how gay hearts bleed in Uganda under your governance."

The debate was broadcast on the BBC system on March 12 and 13 and the video was released to the media. The video is available free and the link is posted here. It lasts 47 minutes.

See the debate here.

Debate panelists were:
Paula Akugizibwe - Human Rights Activist, Rwanda
David Bahati - Member of Parliament, Uganda
Eusebius McKaiser - Writer & Lecturer, South Africa
Festus Mogae - President of Botswana, 1998-2008
Sideeqah Tunde-Lawal - Muslim Youth Leader, Nigeria

Man`s basic vice, the source of all his evils, is the act of unfocusing his mind, the suspension of his consciousness, which is not blindness, but the refusal to see, not ignorance, but the refusal to know. Ayn Rand

Homophobia is an Addiction to Anger and Fear

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com

I have seen and read about homophobia for many years, from the streets in Eastern Europe to the recent debate on South African TV ('Is Homosexuality un-African?').

A report came across recently that Scott Lively--the American anti-gay crusader who stirred up gay-hate legislation in Uganda last year--was recently in Moldova warning legislators of the impending "outbreak of homosexuality" if they passed an anti-discrimination bill.

There are plenty of reactions to his trip, mostly critical. See JoeMyGod or Throckmorton and numerous others.

The usual vociferous pro and con voices are shouting at each other in public forums. Fortunately in quiet courtroom and research offices the truth about same-sex attraction as a natural phenomenon is proving itself legally and scientifically.

But regardless of these reasoned and studied efforts the homophobes continue their rants and raves. They will not drop their cause or cease their activities. One wonders why?

Homophobia is an Addiction to Anger and Fear
I think an essential force in all this fierce hateful drive against homosexuality is 'addiction'.

To quote the American Society of Addiction Medicine:
"Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in the individual pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. The addiction is characterized by impairment in behavioral control, craving, inability to consistently abstain, and diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships…"

It doesn't take much to read into this definition the angry behaviors of many religious fundamentalists and evangelicals who spew vehement and toxic curses against homosexuality; who are defiantly clear-minded that it is a moral plague upon the earth, a demonic drive, an agenda to destroy heterosexual marriage, an anti-Christ, a sexual disease (along with AIDS)brought about by unnatural behavior--and they are sure that all this is a matter of choice. End of argument.

Their anti-gay words and actions are driven by an addictive craving and fear; a craving to feel angry which feels empowering, bold, forceful. And out of control. They cannot let go and cannot reach a middle ground of understanding. Hence their impairment in behavioral control.

They cannot let go because of two irrational forces in their lives, religious conviction and fear of human sexuality. The craving for religious fervor and the feeling of insensate fear are both irrational conditions. In homophobic addicts religious anger and sexual fear are both aroused emotional states of mind, separate and distinct from the more reflective and moderating cortex.

(The monastic life is a balance between these mental conditions, a deeply felt devotion and a reasoned management of that devotion. They don't rant or bash the 'enemy' in public.)

For addicts there is no reasoned middle ground. A blind, tenacious, unquestioned conviction founded in unproven religious mythology becomes an hostile emotional substance that offers spiritual ease or relief against perceived enemies. Such self-righteous fervor they believe is to be shared.

At the same time fundamentalist spiritual addicts secretly feel a deep seated fear of their own sexuality (homo or hetero), that mysterious force within one's psyche that is ever present and on the edge of overt expression. It's an animal-like impulse for objects of desire. Such an urge is to be suppressed; it underlies their loathing toward homosexuals.

Religious fervor and sexual desire--one expressed the other repressed--grinding against each other in the 'souls' of addicts. This tension increases confusion and drives hateful emotional expression against a target (gays) outside themselves; it's done in the name of another target (pleasing God) outside themselves; God is used as a political weapon.

Clearly we see here the "dysfunction in these circuits" that lead to the bizarre "psychological, social and spiritual manifestations." Who in their right mind would profane a funeral with hateful posters quoting Biblical distortions! Who would encourage inhumane discrimination in foreign countries!

More than one religious clergyman has failed to balance these two internal forces--from Catholic priests to evangelical preachers. For clergy the result is incredible hypocrisy and crime. For laymen and self-proclaimed pastors the result is hate speech, irrational beliefs, gay bashing and dangerous legislation.

The great challenge is to find recovery. Homophobes want to 'cure' homosexuality, an impossible task. In return we ask if homophobia is curable. The answer, fraught with difficulty, is yes. We are born with a pre-wired sexual orientation. Babies are not born with anger and fear.

Also see:
-Avert: Homophobia, prejudice & attitudes to gay men and lesbians
-Wikipedia: Homophobia s a range of negative attitudes toward gay people
-ADL: Homophobia is hatred or fear of homosexuals
-Statistics About Homophobia: National Organization for Women
-Racism and homophobia ‘worse in chaotic environments’

Yet Another Gay Teen Suicide

By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
December 20, 2010

Since I posted this originally on October 2, there have been three more gay teen suicides, in Oklahoma, Michigan and Pennsylvania. In addition I have found out about four other earlier deaths. So I'm re-posting this blog entry with the updated names and stories:

Recent 2010 gay suicides and others from preceding years are tragic and shameful wounds on our culture where public homophobia is still legal with no national legislation to outlaw such hate speech and action--including school bullying and harassment. Public homophobia (in religions, politics, schools, corporations, sports, military, boy scouts, etc.) has a strong influence on vulnerable gay (LGBT) youth who get the message that gay is bad which leads some to reject and harm themselves (homophobia turned inward) The results are seen here in these in these profoundly sad stories:

Recently deceased gay youth:
17-year-old Eric Mohat of Ohio, March 29, 2007
11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover of Massachusetts, April 7, 2009
11-year-old Jaheem Herrera from Georgia, April 16, 2009
17-year-old Tyler Long from Georgia, October 17, 2009
15-year-0ld Phoebe Prince of Massachusetts, March 28, 2010 (not gay)
15-year-old Justin Aaberg from Minnesota, July 9, 2010
15-year-old Billy Lucas from Indiana, September 9, 2010
13-year-old Seth Walsh from California, September 19, 2010
18-year-old Tyler Clementi of New Jersey, September 22, 2010
13-year-old Texas teen Asher Brown, September 23, 2010
19-year-old Raymond Chase of New York, September 29, 2010
19-year-old Zach Harrington from Norman. Oklahoma, October 9, 2010
19-year-old Corey Jackson of Michigan, October 19, 2010
14-year-0ld Brandon Bitner of Pennsylvania, November 2010
...and others

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17-year-old Eric Mohat of Ohio, March 29, 2007:
Parents blame school bullying for teen Eric Mohat's suicide: "The lawsuit -- filed March 27, alleges that the quiet but likable boy, who was involved in theater and music, was called 'gay,' 'fag,' 'queer' and 'homo' and often in front of his teachers. Most of the harassment took place in math class and the teacher -- an athletic coach -- was accused of failing to protect the boy." The Mohats also claim that bullying was a "significant factor" in the deaths of three other students in Eric Mohat's class in 2007. Mentor high school officials confirmed that a girl and two other boys in Eric's class had killed themselves in 2007 due to bullying.
http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/tag/eric-mohat/
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=7228335

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11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover of Massachusetts, April 7, 2009:
An 11-year-old Massachusetts boy, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, hanged himself Monday after enduring bullying at school, including daily taunts of being gay, despite his mother's weekly pleas to the school to address the problem. This is at least the fourth suicide of a middle-school aged child linked to bullying this year.Carl, a junior at New Leadership Charter School in Springfield who did not identify as gay, would have turned 12 on April 17, the same day hundreds of thousands of students will participate in the 13th annual National Day of Silence. by taking some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying and harassment at school.
Other three known cases of suicide among middle-school students took place in Chatham, Evanston and Chicago, Ill., in the month of February, 2009.
http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2400.html
http://jeffwinbush.com/2010/04/06/carl-joseph-walker-hoover-bullied-to-death-by-accusations-he-was-gay/

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11-year-old Jaheem Herrera from Georgia, April 16, 2009:
The recent 'bullycide' deaths of Eric Mohat and Carl Walker-Hoover certainly weren't the first, and won't likely be the last, but I didn't expect to read this story about Jaheem Herrera, which is similar in almost every aspect to Walker-Hoover's, just one week later. And like Walker-Hoover's, it includes a school tone-deaf to a mother's concerns, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports: "On Thursday afternoon, after returning home from Dunaire Elementary School, Jaheem quietly went into his room and hanged himself…" Jaheem was bullied relentlessly, his family said. They knew the boy was a target, but until his death they didn’t understand the scope.
http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/another-11yearold-commits-suicide-over-antigay-bullying.html
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-psychological-solution-bullying/200908/who-really-killed-11-year-old-jaheem-herrera

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17-year-old Tyler Long from Georgia, October 17, 2009
A family wants answers after they say bullying lead to their son's death. Seventeen year old Tyler Long committed suicide last month.
"He was my best friend, my role model, I looked to him for advice," Troy Long, Tyler's fourteen-year-old brother, says. He says his older brother meant the world to his family. In sixth grade Tyler was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome - a form of autism that creates social disorder, but Tyler still managed to enjoy sports, video games, and his family.
"When Tyler smiled he just had that look like he was the best man around," Teryn Long, Tyler's sister, says. But that smile died on October 17.
"I felt shocked, disbelief, it was like a part of me had vanished," Troy says.
"I got out of bed and I went in Tyler's room where David was and I saw him hanging there and I knew he had had enough," Tina Long, Troy's mother, says.
http://www.newschannel9.com/articles/tyler-986458-says-family.html
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/TheLaw/school-bullying-epidemic-turning-deadly/story?id=11880841

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15-year-0ld Phoebe Prince of Massachusetts, March 28, 2010 (bullying not gay related)
Nine Massachusetts teens were indicted Monday for driving a pretty 15-year-old "new girl" from Ireland to suicide in a case that has become a symbol of high school bullying.The sweeping charges - which come after months of complaints that the bullies weren't being punished - include statutory rape, violation of civil rights with bodily injury, criminal harassment and stalking. Phoebe Prince, a new arrival at South Hadley High School from a tiny seaside hamlet in County Clare, was mercilessly tormented by a cadre of classmates later dubbed the "Mean Girls" by Massachusetts newspapers."The investigation revealed relentless activity directed toward Phoebe designed to humiliate her and to make it impossible for her to remain at school," District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel said."The bullying, for her, became intolerable."
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/03/29/2010-03-29_phoebe_prince_south_hadley_high_schools_new_girl_driven_to_suicide_by_teenage_cy.html

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"Justin Aaberg came out as gay when he was 13 and, as his mom found out only after he hanged himself, suffered tremendously inside. 'I actually thought he had the perfect life. I thought out of anybody I knew that he had the perfect life,' said Justin Aaberg's mother, Tammy Aaberg. 'But I guess he didn't think so.' In the weeks since she found her son dead in his room on July 9, Tammy Aaberg has heard from many of her son's friends at Anoka High School. They told her Justin Aaberg had been bullied and had recently broken up with his boyfriend. Those same students also opened up about their own experiences, telling her they feel harassed and unsafe as gay and lesbian students. 'These kids, they just hate themselves. They literally feel like they want to die. So many kids are telling me this,' said Tammy Aaberg, fighting tears."
http://minnesotaindependent.com/64978/wcco-mother-justin-aaberg-lgbt-bullying-anoka-hennepin
http://minnesotaindependent.com/64047/anti-gay-group-organizes-in-anoka-schools-as-community-deals-with-gay-suicides

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15-year-old Billy Lucas from Indiana, September 9, 2010:
Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old freshman at Greensburg High School in Indiana, hung himself on Thursday after enduring bullying torment from his peers — just a few weeks into the school year. His mother found her son, hanging, in their barn. On Billy's Facebook web memorial, he's remembered with comments like, "Everyone made fun of him." At least one former student says he made administrators aware of his own LGBT bullying, and they did nothing.
http://www.towleroad.com/2010/09/indiana-teen-commits-suicide-after-anti-gay-bullying-at-school.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Billy-Lucas-Memorial/125181990865723

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13-year-old Seth Walsh from California, September 19, 2010:
There was standing room only at the Tehachapi (California) First Baptist Church Friday afternoon, as the community gathered to remember 13-year-old Seth Walsh, who took his own life last week after being bullied for being gay. Seth, a student at Jacobsen Middle School in Tehachapi was found unconscious and not breathing on Sept. 19 after he apparently tried to hang himself from a tree in his backyard, according to a police report. Friends said that Seth had been picked on for years because he was gay.
http://www.turnto23.com/news/25249735/detail.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-lehr/for-asher-brown-seth-wals_b_746307.html

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18-year-old Tyler Clementi of New Jersey, September 22, 2010:
The suicide of a first-year university student in the United States has shocked observers and raised more questions about cyber-bullying.
Students at Rutgers University in New Jersey have been mourning Tyler Clementi's death, which happened September 22 but only became public this week. It is alleged the 18-year-old's roommate Dharun Ravi secretly filmed him kissing another boy and then broadcast the video on the internet... Just as the murder of Matthew Shepard galvanized the gay community around hate-crime legislation more than a decade ago, the suicide of a Rutgers University student whose sex life was splashed on the Internet has activists rallying around their latest cause: telling tormented gay teens they just need to hang on for a while, that they'll live through it. Bullying and harassment of young gays and lesbians, and the suicides they have caused, have long been a major topic in gay publications and among activists. But celebrities and others have seized on Tyler Clementi's shocking suicide to call attention to the issue.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/rutgers-campus-mourns-loss-18-year-tyler-tyler/story?id=11782324
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/10/gay_suicide_dan_savage_ellen_d.html

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13-year-old Texas teen Asher Brown, September 23, 2010:
Eighth-grader Asher Brown, 13, killed himself last week. He shot himself in the head after enduring what his mother and stepfather say was constant harassment from four other students at Hamilton Middle School in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.
Brown, his family said, was "bullied to death" — picked on for his small size, his religion and because he did not wear designer clothes and shoes. Kids also accused him of being gay, some of them performing mock gay acts on him in his physical education class, his mother and stepfather said. Asher's parents said they had complained about the bullying to Hamilton Middle School officials during the past 18 months, but claimed their concerns fell on deaf ears.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7220896.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-lehr/for-asher-brown-seth-wals_b_746307.html

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19-year-old Raymond Chase of New York, September 29, 2010:
Raymond Chase has committed suicide. Chase, a student of culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, hung himself. The gay group Campus Pride sent out a statement about Chase's death: "The loss of Raymond this week is the second college LGBT-related suicide in a week and the fifth teenage LGBT suicide in three weeks. The suicide of this openly gay young man is for reasons currently unknown; however, the recent pattern of LGBT youth suicides is cause for grave concern,” remarked the group's executive director, Shane Windmeyer.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/01/raymond-chase-suicide_n_746989.html
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tonight-national-moment-of-silence-for-the-5-youth-who-recently-died-by-suicide-104163098.html

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19-year-old Zach Harrington from Norman. Oklahoma, October 9, 2010:
A 19-year-old gay man from Oklahoma has taken his own life, and his parents say a hate-filled recent City Council meeting he attended may have driven him over the edge. Zach Harrington was a talented musician who’d endured years of struggles due to his sexual orientation in high school in conservative Norman, Okla. On Sept. 28, Harrington attended a three-hour public hearing on a proposal to declare October gay history month in the city. Although the council ultimately approved the proposal, Harrington’s parents described the meeting as potentially “toxic” for their son, a private person who internalized his feelings.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20101010_12_0_NORMAN920113
http://www.towleroad.com/2010/10/gay-teen-in-oklahoma-takes-his-own-life.html

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19-year-old Corey Jackson of Michigan, October 19, 2010
An Oakland University (Michigan) sophomore took his own life Tuesday, October 19, a few months after telling his family and friends he was gay. Family members of Corey Jackson say they believe the Rochester Hills, Mich., college student had been bullied over his sexual orientation, and it ultimately led him to commit suicide. "I believe [it happened] because he recently realized he was a homosexual and he was getting pressured at school by his peers because he told his family and nothing changed here," his grandmother Carolyn Evans told Click On Detroit. "Corey was the most loving, giving, funny person. He had the most wonderful personality. He had cousins from ages 14 down to 2 and he never said a bad word about anybody. When he went to school and he realized his sexual preference had changed, he changed completely. He withdrew."

Oakland University president Gary Russi said in an e-mail to students that Jackson’s death "diminishes us all... In our mourning, I am hopeful that we will not focus on the manner of Corey's death, but rather celebrate the life he lived and the people he touched," Russi wrote.
Students organized a candlelight vigil Wednesday night to honor Jackson. The president Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, of which Jackson was a member, wore a purple shirt Wednesday in remembrance of Jackson and in support of ending bullying of LGBT teens.
http://www.autostraddle.com/gay-teen-kills-himself-63384/
http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?ID=25974

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14-year-0ld Brandon Bitner of Pennsylvania, November 2010
Brandon Bitner was buried on Wednesday, November 10. The 14-year-old high school freshman from rural Middleburg, Pennsylvania committed suicide by running into the path of a tractor trailer. He left a note that he wanted to draw attention to bullying. Brandon was a talented musician, who aspired to be a classical violinist. According to the note, he was tired of being called "faggot" and "sissy."
http://www.equalityforum.com/news_item.cfm?id=64
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2010/11/brandon-bitner-anti-gay-bullying-leads-to-another-tragic-teen-suicide/

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Young Lesbian Couple, 21 and 17, Commit Suicide; Drugs Suspected, September 27, 2010
http://www.autostraddle.com/lesbian-double-suicide-4567/
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Columnist and adviser Dan Savage and his husband, Terry, sat down before a camera and talked about their experience with bullying and how good their life became once they left school. "We wanted to show them that happiness was possible in the future," Savage said in a phone interview. He asked people to submit similar videos to a YouTube channel, It Gets Better. More than 200 videos have been uploaded to the site. "It's not a solution; it's not a magic curative," Savage said, but it is a small step to counteract the bullying, to give the teenagers an idea that they are not going through this alone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IcVyvg2Qlo&feature=player_embedded#!

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Equality Forum produced the documentary film "JIM IN BOLD" (www.jiminbold.com) about the impact of homophobia on gay youth. The film centers on James Wheeler, a 19-year-old talented youth who committed suicide. Jim was surrounded in his high school's locker room and urinated on. There was no disciplinary action. The award-winning film has been screened at over 50 film festivals and at the annual meetings of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association.
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Support and other resources for gay young people:
The Trevor Project Hotline: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ 866-488-7386

Campus Pride. Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Read more.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call these Helplines:
(USA) 1-888–843-4564 (4pm to mid-night Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Saturday) (Gay and Lesbian)
(USA) 1-800-784-2433 (National Helpline, Los Angeles, California; 24 hours, 7 days week)
(UK) 1-800 18 45 27