Is this what we have become as a society: intolerant and ignorant? Where kids harass and bully other weaker kids just because they are different?
Where do these kids get the sense that it is acceptable to bully others, and that it is acceptable to be prejudiced and discriminating? The answer is simple; they learn it from their parents or at school.

Bullying teenagers, especially gay teenagers or the ones that are still questioning their identity, is becoming an epidemic. Gay teenagers are called names regularly, and the worst part is that the teachers and the school don’t address these issues, or don’t know how to address these issues; sweeping them under the carpet will not make them disappear.

The poor teenagers are tormented, feel isolated, unloved, hated, not accepted, ridiculed and mostly shamed for who they are. They have no idea where to turn, how to look for help. Most school administrations don’t have any designed system in place to address the gay issue in schools, and teachers don’t know how, are scared to face these issues, or they feel documenting the bullying or harassing situations to the office is enough.

Some schools have anti-bullying programs mentioned on their curriculum, but it is just to be politically correct, and they don’t intervene to stop the bullying, where they were made aware of the torment they are going through.

This is also a wake-up for parents. Parents should realize that they are the first gate of knowledge for their kids, who absorb totally how they act, including their prejudice. In fact, children learn to discriminate in the same way they absorb a new language, learn to dress in a certain way, or to use a toy. Early child and family experiences shape children’s attitudes and behaviors. Bullying is a product of the home.

Parents of gay teens: accept your children, love and support them, embrace them for who they are. You are their first line of defense and you might make all the difference in saving their lives. The solution is within us; we can prevent the unnecessary loss of young teens. We need to make these teens know that there is hope, that there is help. Teens should know that there is nothing wrong with being gay, that being gay is not a choice, it is who they are; and they are loved for who they are, regardless of who they choose to be with.

Legislation should be scripted to protect these teenagers; school administrators should impose very strict rules and regulations for zero tolerance for bullying and harassment, and schools should offer counseling to these teens, in a safe environment with total privacy. Teachers should get thorough training on sexual orientation and harassment.

I do stand for freedom of choice and the right of everyone to live their lives the way they want to. Who are we to judge anyone or judge that being gay is wrong or shameful? Hatred never brings any positive changes; it just generates more hatred. Just think if it was your child that lost their life: How would you feel? But most will just ignore this write up and say to themselves, "my kid would never bully someone" because that's what parents do, protect their own and they don't even know that their kid "did" bully someone and their kid "was" responsible for another teen ending their life!!! How much more and how much longer must this go on?  PLEASE open your eyes!!!!

My eyes tear badly as I finish this blog because I care and because I have a heart and I feel for others. Is that a bad thing I ask?  And let me add this bit of personal information, my brother that I loved so much and always will, was also a victim of this "what I call" serious hate crime that we discuss each day and most do nothing about.

Please advocate for zero tolerance for prejudice and discrimination. Let this be a wake-up call; let these tragedies be a candle that illuminates our path to recovery and healing. Let us stand up and speak up. It starts with each one of us saying "no more bullying and no more discrimination." We need to make our voices heard. We've lost enough of promising young lives!