“Attention must be paid,” Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller
Last month, major media networks reported the deaths of four gay youth due to bullying and harassment, the most publicized being the death of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi who committed suicide after his roommate filmed via webcam and leaked a video of Clementi having sex with a man.
I am gay and have written about gay rights issues for the past three years in The Minaret. Though I write this out of rage and disgust, the impetus behind this article is witness. We must bear witness to these tragedies. This article is the least I can do.
Speaking out is the least I — and we all — can do.
That homophobic behavior is ludicrous and damaging goes without saying, but more often than not our silence is deadlier still.
I am ashamed for writing this article weeks after the deaths of these young men. I should have spoken up earlier.
It may seem naïve to think that had I written about how gay youth have a staggeringly high suicide rate in this country, I could have saved lives, but it really isn’t.
Voice is power.
I must admit, I’m writing from a privileged position. My family and friends have always supported me and never once made me feel insecure about my sexuality. I’ve never been the victim of bullying either.
However, some of my closest friends, who are out and proud on campus, can’t come out to their families. Conservative religious beliefs, political ideologies, and cultural backgrounds prevent many of them from being forthright about themselves.
But this is not about politics or faith. This is about human life, the fundamental right for men and women to live without worrying if the wrong gesture or a kiss in public will land them in the hospital or a grave.
We must remember that our actions have consequences from something as seemingly small as saying “That’s so gay” to calling someone a “faggot” or “dyke.”
This article is for Tyler Clementi, age 18, for Billy Lucas, age 15, for Seth Walsh, age 13, for Asher Brown, age 13, for the many others who have passed away in silence, for the many who are still suffering in silence, for those who are out but cannot speak, for those who will not speak.