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It made headlines when an 18-year-old Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after two other students posted a video of him having sex with another man online.
It made news when a "pack" of gang members was busted for attacks that included the sodomy and torture of two teens in The Bronx.
It made news when the Republican candidate for governor in New York delivered a speech claiming he thinks homosexuality is a perversion and gay pride parades are "disgusting." And when Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina reiterated that gay people (and unwed mothers) should be banned from teaching in public schools.
It makes news. There's also a body count: From Richard Kim in the Nation Magazine: In September alone the body count includes Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old from Indiana who hanged himself after repeatedly being called a "fag" by his classmates; Asher Brown, a 13-year-old Texan who shot himself after his fellow students performed "mock gay acts" on him during gym class; and 13-year-old Seth Walsh from California who hanged himself from a tree in his backyard after being teased for years for being gay.
It makes news but what will make it change? Three local churches here in lower Manhattan, are participating in Dan Savage's 'It Gets Better' project this Sunday, to give gay youth hope for the future by telling stories and sharing courage. We'll be bringing you news of the 'It Gets Better' campaign here on GRITtv next week.
Want to take part?
Post your videos, or your news, at GRITtv/s Facebook page.
*The "F Word" is a regular commentary by Laura Flanders, the host of GRITtv.
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Selected
Articles
It's the Economy, Not the Bloggers
It seems odd to quote Bill Clinton when it's Obama's recycling of Clintonite politicians that has helped get us into this mess, but there it is. "It's the economy, stupid."
Laura Flanders
Questioning the Cycle of War
In our longest war, we have yet to even begin to grapple with the whys of war and the what-war-really-is questions.
Laura Flanders
Is the Drug War a Class War?
The war on drugs. We keep calling it that, it seems, because we like wars on abstract concepts.
Laura Flanders
Larry Summers: Goodbye To All That
The Devil we know certainly has friends. Time for other voices to be raised, loud, fast.
Laura Flanders
Echoing at the Extremes
Funny how here in the U.S. we've only heard about one extreme: the Tea Party movement, the angry, anti-government, pro-gun, far white.
Laura Flanders
Sexy Primary Victories On Both Sides
Should Democrats spend more time talking about masturbation?
Laura Flanders
Campaign Cash From Rate Hikes
The first since the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Citizens United case, which lifted a ban on direct corporate spending—the 2010 elections are being bought by the highest bidder.
Laura Flanders
New York's Real Culture War
Shadowy individuals aim to control our way of life, and women's lives and liberties, especially, are at risk.
Laura Flanders
Research help and generous assistance from GRITtv writer Sarah Jaffe.
Archive
9-11-01
A
personal log from Ground Zero.
Workingforchange.com. A
Racist Elephant in our Living Room Laura's landmark piece
on the 2000 election.
Z Net
WorkingforChange
ARCHIVE |
