NJ Student Taped Having Sex Kills Himself

[OneFinger]

A college student jumped to his death off a bridge a day after authorities say two classmates surreptitiously recorded him having sex with a man in his dorm room and broadcast it over the Internet.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=157&sid=12627151

This is a "must read" article for any caring human.

At first I was pissed as hell at the students who secretly taped him and broadcast it on the internet. What a horrible thing to do.

But, then I got angry at society for fostering an environment where consensual gay sex drives someone to kill themselves. Every day we see heterosexism on TV, in newspaper ads, and openly discussed at work. Yet, when 2 men have sex it's a recreation "pass time" to be broadcast to the world in an attempt to embarrass or cause their suicide?!?

How much longer can this be tolerated? What can we do to prevent something like this in the future?

[TotallyOz]

I am not sure how it can be prevented until all young people realize that it is OK to be gay. We have some a long way but there is so much more to do.

I think Freedom of sexuality and acceptance of ones thoughts and desires is critical in a healthy life and world. I also believe that when others accept gays and gays accept themselves the world will be better for all especially children. Today's culture pounds into their head that bigotry and intolerance and hate is acceptable. You hear it on TV. You see it in school. It is part of our country and IMHO, we have become a more conservative society and we are going in the wrong direction.

[Guest Matrix]

I am not sure how it can be prevented until all young people realize that it is OK to be gay.

That's the fight Oz and that's the issue. Everything that you and I might know makes the difference.

Please support The Matthew Sheppard Foundation It's the ONE hope that THEY all do have.

[Guest FourAces]

Yet another terrible and very sad incident involving a young gay man. Each one of these cases brings tears to my eyes. This did not have to happen. The pics below are describe in the margin.

[BiBottomBoy]

Just a note: they found no body and the kid disappeared right after he threatened to turn his room mate in to school officials - so the cops are still investigating to see if it is a suicide or a murder.

The kid was talking about the incident in a gay forum right before he disappeared and did not appear suicidal at all.

You can see screen shots here:

http://gawker.com/5651659/is-this-webcam-spying-victim-tyler-clementis-last-call-for-help

[OneFinger]

Just a note: they found no body and...

According to Fox News, "The body found in New York's Hudson River has been identified by police as 18-year-old Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide after fellow students allegedly filmed him without his knowledge in a sexual encounter with another man in his college dorm room.

A family lawyer had confirmed Wednesday that 18-year-old Tyler Clementi killed himself by jumping from the George Washington Bridge. The attorney, Paul Mainardi, said Clementi was "a fine young man and a distinguished musician."

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/29/nj-student-secretly-taped-having-sex-kills/

The post about supporting the Matthew Shepard Project is an excellent suggestion. It's an organization that I support.

[Guest Conway]

Outing people for personal gain is wrong. No matter what your agenda in doing so is.

This is a lesson that we as a community should learn. Coming out is a personal choice whether you're a 19 year old college student or a 45 year old fundamentalist minister who preaches hate against us.

As someone who came out rather late in life (my early 30s), I can only imagine the anxiety and dread that this young man may have felt. Had I been outed at his age, my reaction likely would have been the same.

I encourage all of you to think long and hard of the consequences of outing anyone.

[BigK]

This is a terrible story. Rutgers should expel his roommate immediately.

[Guest zipperzone]

This is a terrible story. Rutgers should expel his roommate immediately.

Personally, I think they should just throw him off the George Washington Bridge.

[Guest Matrix]

Personally, I think they should just throw him off the George Washington Bridge.

I think the Hudson is polluted enough. Cremation is more eco friendly.

[BiBottomBoy]

He should get five years in prison with a week taken off the sentence for good behavior every time he's the bottom in a livestreamed prison sex session.

[Guest Matrix]

Coming out is a personal choice whether you're a 19 year old college student or a 45 year old fundamentalist minister who preaches hate against us.

You loose the privilege of coming out on your own terms when you become that 45 year old fundamentalist minister who preaches hate against us.

If you haven't noticed the carnage that these type bigots leave behind in their tracks, I'd be happy to point out to you some prime examples of their work.

[Guest Matrix]

Judy Shepard Speaks out.

[TotallyOz]

From PinkNews.com

Four US teens bullied for being gay commit suicide in a month

At least four incidents of young men killing themselves after being bullied over their sexual orientation have been reported in the US in the last month.

The most recent death was of New Jersey student Tyler Clementi, who jumped from a bridge after his roommate allegedly taped him having sex with a man.

Dharun Ravi of Plainsboro, New Jersey, and Molly W Wei of Princeton have been charged with invasion of privacy after they allegedly streamed the footage on the internet.

On September 23rd, 13-year-old Asher Brown, from Houston, Texas, shot himself in the head. His grieving parents said he had been persistently harassed by other students who thought he was gay.

Fifteen-year-old Billy Lucas, of Indiana, hanged himself on September 9th. Classmates said he had been bullied for years over his sexual orientation.

Another 13-year-old, Seth Walsh from Minnesota, died in hospital on Wednesday, eight days after attempting to hang himself from a tree. He is said to have endured taunts and abuse for being gay from other students.

It is unclear whether suicides for young gay men are up, or if there has been better reporting of their deaths. LGBT students are known to be at a higher suicide risk than their heterosexual peers.

No one is expected to be charged over the harassment which led to the deaths of the three younger boys.

In Seth's case, police found that no crime had been committed.

In Billy's case, a Facebook memorial set up for him was hit by more homophobic abuse, as well as apologies from some of the students who had harassed him.

Meanwhile, Asher's parents say they repeatedly complained to his school about the persecution but officials did not take the reports seriously.

One report claimed that Asher had come out to his stepfather on the morning of his death. The Houston Chronicle reported that the boy's stepfather accepted his declaration.

In another tragedy, 19-year-old Rhode Island student Raymond Chase hung himself on Wednesday. The student was openly gay but it is not clear whether he had been bullied.

The deaths have shocked America and lesbian chatshow host Ellen DeGeneres implored the country to take action and prevent further deaths.

Speaking on her daytime show yesterday, the presenter said: "Something must be done.

"This needs to be a wake up call to everyone that teenage bullying and teasing is an epidemic in this country, and the death rate is climbing.

"We have an obligation to change this."

On Clementi, whose body is thought to have been recovered from the Hudson River, she added: "He was outed as being gay on the Internet and he killed himself… One life lost in this senseless way is tragic."

New York-based gay rights group Empire State Pride Agenda said in a statement. “It is difficult to say if this is a trend, or if our society is becoming sensitive to this kind of story that we have heard far too often in the LGBT community.”

Judy Shepard, mother of the late Matthew Shepard who was killed a decade ago for being gay, called for schools to be made safer.

“Our young people deserve better than to go to schools where they are treated this way,” she said. “We have to make schools a safe place for our youth to prepare for their futures, not be confronted with threats, intimidation or routine disrespect.”

Forty-four US states have anti-bullying laws, but gay campaigners complain that many are not comprehensive enough and do not detail what bullying can involve.

Since Billy Lucas' death, Indiana legislators have promised to tighten laws to help prevent future tragedies.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/10/01/four-us-teens-bullied-for-being-gay-commit-suicide-in-a-month/

[KYTOP]

Here's a link to a great op-ed Friday in the Rutgers University newspaper:

http://www.dailytargum.com/opinions/stand-up-to-homophobes-1.2350492

[Guest zipperzone]

Here's a link to a great op-ed Friday in the Rutgers University newspaper:

http://www.dailytargum.com/opinions/stand-up-to-homophobes-1.2350492

I totally agree - very well written. If only it will do some good........

[BiBottomBoy]

Gawker is reporting that officials are thinking about prosecuting this as a hate crime.

[TotallyOz]

You loose the privilege of coming out on your own terms when you become that 45 year old fundamentalist minister who preaches hate against us.

I do NOT believe in outting anyone. I think it is wrong and despicable. But, I also agree with Matrix that there is a point when a public person "preaches" hate against homosexuality that they loose the right to come out on their own terms. Being trained as a minister myself, I never gave one sermon that was against homosexuality. Quite the opposite, I always talked about love and understanding.

I did not come out until I was 28 and the thought of doing it earlier terrified me. I would most likely have been better off had I been forced out at 18. But, I have no doubt that I did not have the necessary maturity and love for myself to deal with it and I don't know the outcome had I not been able to do this on my own terms.

[BiBottomBoy]

I'm in favor of the outting of Cruise and Travolta because they use their celebrity to lure people into Scientology, then Scientology gets people to admit on videotape that they are gay and then the Scientologists use those tapes to blackmail people into staying in Scientology and paying them money.

Meanwhile Cruise and Travolta keep fucking dudes, while helping to exploit in the closet gays.

[OneFinger]

...Scientology gets people to admit on videotape that they are gay and then the Scientologists use those tapes to blackmail people into staying in Scientology and paying them money.

I'm not a fan of Scientology but this type of activity is news to me.

Do you have a source?

[Guest zipperzone]

I'm not a fan of Scientology but this type of activity is news to me.

Do you have a source?

If you want an ear full about Scientology, try reading "Tom Cruise - an Unauthorized Biography" by Andrew Morton (St Martin's Press).

While it is essentially about TC, there is much said about the religion and it's hold on people and the unbelievable way they operate.

I assume it must be factual for as we all know there is no one more litigious than Mr C. and to the best of my knowledge he hasn't sued.