JTIMA activist Amirah Goldberg described anti-LGBT bullying and suicide as inevitable outcomes of governmental policies like Don’t Ask Don’t Tell that treat LGBT people as second class citizens. She urged the crowd to get involved with JTIMA in a new initiative to increase resources and support for homeless queer youth. Speakers Adora Asala of Queer Women of Color and Jim Reef of JTIMA both talked about having attempted suicide as teens. Adora spoke of the shame she still felt, while Jim credited the Boston Alliance of LGBT Youth for saving his life. Daunasia Yancy of BAGLY stressed that there is much to be done to improve the lives of vulnerable youth, and each of us has a responsibility to make it happen. Keegan O’Brien, a student at UMass/Boston told the crowd that we can have an impact by protesting, marching, sitting-in, and chaining ourselves to the White House fence. An open microphone speak-out followed, in which individuals were invited to share personal stories of surviving homophobia and bullying.
Join the Impact MA www.jointheimpactma.com is a local grassroots organization that traces its origins to the historic wave of community organizing that followed on passage of California’s Proposition 8 in 2008, dubbed “Stonewall 2.0” by the New York Times. JTIMA participated in the multi-organizational coalition that led the successful fight for comprehensive anti-bullying legislation in Massachusetts. The group has confronted homophobia in a series of actions over the past 2 years, with the ex-gay movement a particular target for its dissemination of negative attitudes about homosexuality.
In September, 2010, 9 gay teens killed themselves over a span of 22 days. Here is the list of names of recent victims whose suicides were related to homophobia and anti-gay bullying:
Justin Aaberg (15) July 9, 2010, Minnesota
Billy Lucas (15) September 9, 2010. Indiana
Cody J. Barker (17) September 13, 2010. Wisconsin
Seth Walsh (13) September 19, 2010. California
Tyler Clementi (18) September 22, 2010. New Jersey
Asher Brown (13) September 23, 2010. Texas
Harrison Chase Brown (15) September, 25 2010. Colorado
Raymond Chase (19) September 29, 2010. Rhode Island
Felix Sacco (17) September 29, 2010. Massachusetts
Caleb Nolt (14) September 30, 2010. Indiana
Don Gorton for Join the Impact MA
