Show Your Purple This Wednesday
Join the nearly 1,000,000 Facebook users who are coming together Wednesday, October 20, to send a powerful message to prevent suicide among LGBT youth by wearing purple. The messages of hope and inspiration from the “It Gets Better” campaign in recent weeks has been heartening, and now is our chance to keep the momentum going. Tomorrow’s day of remembrance will take place across the country and is an opportunity for supporters of equality to stand in solidarity for our youth. Let’s make it clear that violence and intolerance are not acceptable – not now, not ever.
The suicide crisis plaguing our LGBT youth also extends to the military, which has seen a chilling increase in recent years. LGBT service members suffer from the same mental health and suicide issues as other military personnel, along with the added stress of serving under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Unfortunately, lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members are frequently uncomfortable seeking help from military mental health professionals because of the secrecy that DADT mandates. Until the new DADT Instructions were issued this March, they were right to be concerned.
As long as repeal of this law is delayed, gay service members and young LGBT Americans will continue to hear the message that they are second-class citizens not worthy to serve. Now is the time to stand as one and counter that message with one of hope for our youth and our future.
Below are a list of resources for LGBT youth who are confronted by the ongoing epidemic of suicide, school bullying, and other forms of violence:
The Trevor Project
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The Suicide Prevention Center
SLDN is proud to join our LGBT coalition partners, and we hope you will join us too.
10-19-10 By Paul DeMiglio, Senior Communications Manager |
Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.