ANOTHER LIFE STOLEN BY SOCIETY'S HOMOPHOBIA......and what you can do about it.

Hi kids. Please click on the CNN link, below, to read a mother's first-hand account of her young child's suicide.
Once you finish the article, click on the link I've provided, with dear friend and talented poet/commentator Cleo Creech's take on the suicides we keep seeing from LGBT children. Finally, I've posted a letter from Georgia Equality, on what YOU can do, to create a more inclusive world for children who are LGBT, and those who are targeted as such. God Bless You All, for your compassion, and support.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/23/bullying.suicide/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

__________________________________________________ Link to Cleo Creech's post at his Blog: http://cccreech.blogspot.com/2009/04/beating-up-little-sissies.html
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The letter I received from Georgia Equality:
Dear Lisa,
The country was shocked last week to learn that an 11 year old boy in Springfield, Massachusetts, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, had killed himself after enduring constant bullying at school from classmates who called him gay. This week Georgian’s were further shocked to find out that an 11 year old from Stone Mountain, Jaheem Herrera, also committed suicide as a result of bullies teasing him for being “gay” and “talking funny.”

Now is the time we must redouble our efforts to pass legislation that not only strengthens existing state policies on bullying, but compels school districts to recognize that bullying based on perceptions of sexual orientation or gender identity are especially destructive to young lives.

Georgia Equality asks you to remember Jaheem and Carl Joseph by taking action to protect other students in the future.

3 THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
#1 SEND A LETTER TO YOUR LAWMAKER - CLICK HERE
In 2008, the state Senate passed anti-bullying legislation by a vote of 54-0. A House Education Sub-committee and the full House Education Committee also passed this legislation by unanimous vote. Unfortunately, a floor vote on the bill did not take place by the end of the 2008 Session.
Urge your lawmaker to pass legislation in 2010 to protect students who are bullied or harassed because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
#2 COME TO THE VIGIL
In the wake of the suicide of Jaheem Herrera, the 11-year-old Decatur boy who hanged himself on Thursday, April 16th after enduring relentless bullying in school based on his perceived sexual orientation and ethnicity, there will be a vigil in his honor on Tuesday, April 28th. Tuesday night's vigil is sponsored by The Faith and Community Alliance. Georgia Equality, PFLAG and Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta will also be participating in the vigil.
Date: Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:First Christian Church of DecaturStreet: 601 West Ponce de Leon Ave.City Decatur, GA
#3 MAKE A DONATION
Contribute to Georgia Equality's work and lobbying efforts for anti-bullying legislation in 2010. Visit https://secure.ga4.org/01/basicmembership to become a monthly sustainer, or to make a one-time donation in any amount.
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Peace, kids, Peace.