Alaskans participated in a national moment of silence on Friday in memory of the LGBT youth lost to suicide in the last few weeks because of anti-gay bullying, including:
Justin Aaberg, 15. Billy Lucas, 15. Asher Brown, 13. Seth Walsh, 13. Tyler Clementi, 18. Raymond Chase, 19.
Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and communities.
What can we do to stop this? For starters, tell the kids in your life that you'll love them whether they're gay or straight. Don't assume that they know this. Teach them to speak up if someone's being bullied. It's not play, it's prejudice, and it kills. If they're struggling, make sure they know that life gets better, and it's worth staying around for the good parts. Share national resources like the Trevor Project and local resources like the Identity Hotline and the Gay & Lesbian Community Center.
In the wake of these tragedies as a result of bullying, Ellen DeGeneres recorded the following message, saying "We can't let intolerance and ignorance take another kid's life." Please watch:
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