Bullied Youth Need Our Love – Reach Out and Speak Up

September proved to be a very bad month to be young and gay in America.  15-year-old Billy Lucas, 13-year-old Asher Brown, 18-year-old Tyler Clementi,  13-year-old Seth Walsh, and 19-year-old Raymond Chase all took their own lives because they were bullied for being gay. 

This hurt me first and foremost as a mother of an 8 year old and a 12 year old.  As I read the news of the children whose parents would never see them again the pain in my chest was raw and ragged.  As a lesbian my anger was seething.  As a Christian and social justice organizer my mind was whirling into gear - searching for ways to help my Christian sisters and brothers find resources to help them reach out and speak up on behalf of LGBT  youth. 

Here are a few great links:

A Prayer for Healing and Support in the midst of senseless tragedy

A Litany for Children Who Have Died From Bullying

A multitude of LGBT resources listed on The Beatitudes Society web site including an article by Walter Wink, denominational resources, preaching and teaching helps and more.

Why Anti-Gay Bullying is a Theological Issue by Cody J. Sanders

It Gets Better - After Rutgers Suicide, Columnist Promises 'It Gets Better'

The Trevor Project - the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

Think Before You Speak - Don't Say "That's So Gay"

This I Know- The six-lesson study guide is intended as a companion to For the Bible Tells Me So, the award-winning documentary about homosexuality and the church. DVD and access to downloadable curriculum written by such noted authorities as Rev. Brian McLaren, Marcus Borg, Rev. Victor Paul Furnish, Rev. Jack Rogers, Roberta Showalter Kreider, and Bishop Richard B. Wilke.

On the National Day of Silence hundreds of thousands of students nationwide take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools.

The Give a Damn Campaign is for everybody, especially straight people, who cares about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.

Please share in additional resources that might contribute to an increase of love and compassion for LGTB youth and their families.