Vigils commemorate LGBT youth

OUTPOURINGS OF grief, anger and activism took place across the country at candlelight vigils and speakouts in response to a string of suicides by LGBT teenagers subjected to harassment and bullying, and in the wake of a horrific anti-gay assault in New York City.

In Boston, about 500 LGBT people, activists and allies gathered October 5 in the rain and wind outside the Massachusetts statehouse to mourn for those we recently lost, and to present ideas about how to move forward as a movement. Chris Mason and Amirah Goldberg of Join the Impact MA, which sponsored the event, related statistics that illustrate widespread and institutionalized homophobia and transphobia.

Sue Hyde of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force made the case for pressuring elected representatives for reforms, and Keegan O'Brien of the UMass Boston Equality Coalition and International Socialist Organization spoke to the frustration that many feel toward Democratic Party politicians for their failure to follow through on promises to push for LGBT rights.

Other organizations that took part in the vigil included Queer Women of Color and Friends-Boston, the Mass Transgender Political Coalition and the Boston Alliance of GLBT Youth. Especially compelling were the half dozen LGBT youth and their allies who spoke during the open mike portion of the action about their own experiences with anti-LGBT bullying and their efforts to organize students to stand up to it.

In San Francisco, more than 400 people attended an October 8 rally and march to stand up to youth suicide. The event was called by Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons. The rally featured speeches by members of the Trevor Project, the GSA Network and One Struggle, One Fight as well as state politicians.

But the presence of politicians did nothing to dissuade several speakers from demanding that the government to do more to protect youth in schools and to end the second-class citizenship of LGBT people in this country. The crowd marched by candlelight to Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro district of the city, where the names of known LGBT youth who committed suicide in September were read as the crowd shouted "Presente" for each of them.

In Chicago, more than 400 people gathered for an October 8 candlelight vigil on the campus of DePaul University. The mood was variously somber and angry, mournful and hopeful.

Speakers included a woman who attempted suicide earlier this year and then found acceptance from many she thought had rejected her, including her mother; a mother of a 13-year-old gay son who talked about her efforts to help other parents accept their children's sexual orientation; high school students standing up for themselves and others subjected to harassment at their school; and a transgender man who described the harassment he has faced and the need to stand up against such abuse.

In Los Angeles, about 150 activists, community members and others gathered October 5 at West Hollywood Park for a moment of silence for the recent LGBT suicides.

The gathering primarily focused on mourning the loss of young people whose lives were so tragically cut short. Speakers at the gathering included West Hollywood City Council Member Lindsay Horvath and a clergy member. Both asked community members to be aware of the resources available to those facing bullying and harassment, and flyers listing a variety of suicide prevention groups were passed out.

The clergy member noted that these suicides did not demonstrate an increase in suicide rates, but an increase in the reporting of such events, which, according to him, indicates there are many others in danger in the young LGBT community, again highlighting the importance of the prevention resources.

In Austin, Texas, about 30 people gathered October 11 at the Federal Building where U.S. Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn have their offices. The rally called on these legislators, especially Hutchison, to vote for a trans-inclusive Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

The recent reports of bullying, suicide and torture across the country provided an added dimension to the event, as speakers made direct connections between messages from the top of society that discrimination is acceptable and a climate of dehumanization and fear that LGBT people, especially youth, suffer from each day.

Dana Cloud called out the presidents of both the U.S. and the University of Texas, which does not offer domestic partner benefits, to take a lead and speak out for LGBT rights. "Their silence is a form of dehumanization that makes violence against us seem tolerable," she said.

Equality Across America member David Estlund described the recent torture of three men in the Bronx by nine men who repeated homophobic epithets as they beat, burned and raped their targets. "We lay this grotesque tragedy at the feet of our politicians," he said. "They bear some of the blame for the violence that is ongoing."