REPRESENT How is your Coming Out Month so far? (Coming Out Day is Oct. 11.) How is your LGBT History Month? Personally, we’re feeling a little blue. All this news of teenagers being bullied into corners of unthinkable options has left a hole in our collective heart. LGBT teen suicide: The news of these young people succumbing to what might seem to them the only way out has been devastating. At least the national news media is finally exploring these stories. The ensuing public awareness has shined lights on news that might otherwise have been buried under the fold or deep into the broadcast. Is this the only way gay kids will get their due? How many more of our young queer and questioning kids have to be sacrificed on this altar of silence, hatred, ignorance, and cruelty? This week, our own PFLAG is tackling the issue at this month’s meeting and will be screening the Southern Poverty Law Center‘s short film “Bullied” with a discussion to follow. Let’s follow PFLAG’s example. Let’s lead this discourse; let’s keep it on the front page. Let’s not be silent. Let’s not allow future generations to believe there is no place for them, no future. Let’s represent the best of our queerfaces, the best damn Ls, Gs, Bs, Ts, and Qs for these kids. Let’s let them know that peers might be assholes, but life is fabulous. (See Tuesday.)
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This article appears in October 8 • 2010.