Monday, January 23, 2012
Legislature Another Gay Teen Commits Suicide; Do State Lawmakers Deserve Some Blame?
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Another gay teen has taken his own life in Middle Tennessee. Phillip Parker's family says he committed suicide because he was bullied in school. "A sweet kind person like Phillip took it out on himself, he killed himself to get out of the pain," says his grandfather, Paul Harris.
In this video, the Tennessee Equality Project's Chris Sanders says state lawmakers who have introduced "a slew of hateful bills" bear some responsibility for stoking anti-gay feelings in Tennessee. Sanders names the "Don't Say Gay," "License to Bully" and "Police the Potty" bills. He singles out Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, for special criticism for saying he'd like "to stomp a mudhole" in any transgender person who might go into a store fitting room with his wife or daughters.
Floyd's remark "sends a very clear message about the worth of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in this state and that does have an effect upon youth," says Sanders, calling for lawmakers to withdraw anti-gay bills.
It just seems like a sensible way forward. It is my hope that the General Assembly can find the courage to do the right thing and protect our youth. Until then, all of us at the local level in Tennessee can be working with our school boards to press for more inclusive nondiscrimination policies, and we can also do all we can to intervene in situations in which we know the young person is experiencing harassment, demeaning name-calling and threats of violence.
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Comments (44)
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While I find the recent rash of anti-LGBT legislative activity to be ridiculous I doubt it has anything to do with bullying in our schools. Bullying has been going on in our state, and everywhere else, long before anyone thought of introducing a bill to stop people from saying "gay" in our schools. This bullying stems from the anti-LGBT feelings that are held by too many individuals in our state and which make it possible for our elected officials to introduce ridiculous legislation. If the people of Tennessee were more supportive of the LGBT community then our legislators would be much less likely to introduce legislation that a majority of their constituents would refuse to support. To change the way our legislators are acting and to reduce the amount of bullying in our schools we need to change the way many of the people in our state think first. Our legislators don't elect themselves after all.
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To some degree, anyone who does not take a stand against bullying of gays kids, I suppose, bears some degree of responsibility, although I think you can carry that too far.
Certainly, those who actively encourage demeaning, denigrating and discriminating against these young people bear more responsibility. Those who hold a public trust, like Sen. Campfield and this nitwit Rep. Floyd, deserve more substantive blame. But I suspect even more blame attaches to judgmental bigots preaching homophobia from the pulpit and ignorant parents.
Ultimately, the blame lies with the bullies themselves. If we need legislation, we certainly don't need it to enable and encourage the bullies, as the "license to bully" bill does. We might need it to strengthen the criminal laws against bullying and the ability of the victims to take stronger and more punative civil action.
No, kilted, the legislators didn't elect themselves. But no one can prove that the people of Tennessee elected them either, so don't blame us.
Given the fact that the current klavern of kocmicly klueless flying monkeys bespoiling the General Assembly have made sure that we can only vote on unverifiable voting machines programmed by their own far-reich asshole buddies who program those machines in secret, no one can convince me that Tennessee voters have had ANYTHING to do with the miscreants who were (s)elected by those machines to embarrass us each and every day.
I wish they could prove otherwise, I really do. But since the TN/RICO party has worked so hard to keep our elections unverifiable, it's clear that being able to establish proof of Tennessee voters' intent (in order to demonstrate their rightful authority to lead us) is the last thing on their tiny, turd-shaped minds.
Wow, you really will bring up that voting machine thing in any conversation want you? Try to remember who was in power in the governor's office, state house, state senate, and all the election commissions when these machines were selected and purchased and the situation they were meant to correct, making sure a Democrat is not cheated out of the presidency again.
Blaming Republicans for voting machine fraud is akin to blaming them for the Democratic (big D) produced Jim Crow laws and the Democratic political machines in NY, Chicago, and Memphis.
Signed,
Wallace and Byrd died Democrats
Hell yes they do. They are as much to blame as the bullies. These "LAWS" that protect these bullies and the fact that TENN has become a laughing stock for the rest of the country is proof positive of that.
Without question the legislators and churches are contributing factors to the hate/fear of anyone different from the majority. How did Hitler gain control of Germany? Propaganda and message fed to the majority. A better plan of action in schools might just be educating children on empathy and compassion for all differences. Hey legislature, what's next: "don't say mentally or physically handicapped, don't say redhead, don't say Islamic, don't say Jewish, don't say black?" How far are we going to let them go? Think about it next time you cast a vote.
Bullying in Gordonsville is a County Wide Problemwide. It is done to gays, straights, blacks, whites, football players, cheerleaders, band members etc etc etc... Anyone is a target. There have been numerous families that have suffered at not just the hands of other kids but teachers & administrators as well. Google: Gordonsville Where have all the policies gone & read what another family has gone thru for over two years not by kids but by the people that are suppose to protect our children. I don't know if they ever got help but they have tried since 2008 to make people aware & make change.
Christians are totally for bullying gays. That's what Jesus would do. God created gay people so Jesus would have somebody to pick on. Jesus does NOT love gay people.
He loves GAST... but not gay people. Go figure. If he loves gast and not gay people then I think the whole thing is bullshit.
Liberals always look to blame people they don't like for all of society's ills. 99.9% of the time, there is no correlation between the problem and folks being blamed, but it does make liberals feel morally superior, which I'm sure makes them sleep much better at night.
Conservatives always look to marginalize any group of people they don't like. It makes them feel superior to all those other people who are going to hell.
Ise feels sorry fer them folks whos feels theys immune tuh hell cus theys preach the bible, ors speaks in holier then thou words ... theys bringin hurt an pain tuh theys very own youngens!
Mebbe God created tem Gay folks tuh help end the over population, ors to fin some right fit kin tuh youngens left by straight folks. Either way ... it's God whos got the plan.
So ise hope you folks with yor condensending words, have a real nice air conditiner fors wheres you may be goin ... what one sows, so shall they reap!
Tennesseans, you each have a state representative and a state senator in the Tennessee Legislature. Find them and their contact info here:
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/
and then e-mail and/or call their Nashville legislative offices and demand that they not pass any bill that would harm gay, bisexual, and transgender people in terms of equality, protections, and civil rights overall. Tell your legislators that, on the contrary, laws are needed that will include these, our fellow Americans, in civil rights protections in jobs, marriage, etc., and in protections from bullying.
Sign your name and give the town or county you live in.
This communication takes very little time. Please do this tonight and tomorrow. I am going to do it again myself, even though my state rep is Sheila Butt, author of anti-gay books.
Donna Locke
Columbia, TN
I'll just add that something we really need is protected-class status at the federal level for LGBT people. You may take this up with your rep and your senator in Congress. Legal precedent for this status already exists.
One more thing. I know the Republicans deserve a lot of criticism on this issue, but I want you to know that I know, personally, many Republican lawmakers, even leaders, who feel the way I do about this issue. Most of them are quiet about it, but ... numbers give courage. I ask that more folks in the business community step up on this issue, because our corporate puppets will take a cue from them that they won't take from their own constituents.
And the children that commit suicide because they are teased and bullied only for generic reasons, they should not be included in legislation? I bet they suffer just as much as gay children and I bet their parents suffer as much as the parents of gay children. There's probably a whole lot more of them, too. But, hey, they're nothing special, are they?
Gast, the legislation we're seeing in Tennessee is specifically excluding LGBT people by trying to make them not just less than others but INVISIBLE and by allowing religious cloaks that evil can hide behind, even from the law.
As with other civil rights issues we've seen, we have to change things from the top down, but that begins from the grass roots up. Mindsets will change, the more visible that LGBT situations are, the more it becomes clear we are talking about regular Americans: our brothers, our sisters, our children, our friends, our co-workers, the people who serve us every day in many capacities. And stop allowing illusions and lies from the pulpits and elsewhere to program our young. This must be countered, loudly and clearly.
I fault Tennessee news media for not featuring these lives as they do others, without making a big deal of any differences but presenting them, including them, in the context of everyday life.
Youth must value themselves and take up for themselves. We have to get the messages across way before high school level.
I suggest one more action here. Click on the headline of Jeff Woods's post here. That will give you the URL for the post. Copy and paste the URL into an e-mail to your school board members. You may find the contact info for those members by Googling. You can send one e-mail to all at once.
Write what you have to say about this issue as it relates to school policy and guidelines and ask the school board to click on the link you are including and read Woods's post. Ask them to click on the video link in Woods's post that contains the message from Chris Sanders of the Tennessee Equality Project.
Ms. Locke, there is nothing about a religious cloak that evil hides behind that gast is not intimately familiar with. That is his wheelhouse.
It is heartening to find at least one topic we can agree on. Not about the insidious gast and his ilk, but about the legislation.
@Donna Locke: Those you support won't stop until there's a law that says even arguing with an LGBT is a hate crime. And if you're okay with discussing this issue with elementary school children shouldn't we also include people who love there animals a little too much. After all, they're just like you and me except for their sexual proclivities. I'm sorry Donna, but promoting sexual perversion in schools is just backward to what most people would consider right.
I googled the Gordonsville paper and read the comments on the suicide. One writer, claiming to be the boy's only friend, named those she held responsible. If she's correct in her accusations then good for her; those bullies she named should be held accountable.
"And the children that commit suicide because they are teased and bullied only for generic reasons, they should not be included in legislation? I bet they suffer just as much as gay children"
Same-sex sexual orientation IS genetic, so your concern is already addressed.
Dr Simon LeVey, a nueroscientist and specialist on sexuality just published a new book on this:
"Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Orientation" (2011)
I am sure there are sraight kids that have commited suicide as of late but no one is talking about them.How did this child commit suicide,over dose-gun, what was his method.Does the person who who gave him access to the method( guns-pills etc.) not need some blame.No, that would mean common sense would come into the equation.And this is not about common sense this is about trying to push something on society that it is rejecting.The majority of of this country rejects the lgbt lifestyle, maybe the gays deserve some blame for pushing their agenda to far.In the end the child chose his path, he picked up the gun, or swallowed the pills or whatever, so that ultimately makes him responsible for his own actions.
Tony-- "MOST" of America DOES NOT reject the LGBT lifestyle. Look where these suicides happen. Get real dude.
Yes Chad most of america rejects the lgbt lifestyle.That is proven in more than one survey,although some tolerate it even though they disapprove.You are the minority by a huge landslide and no matter what rhetoric you use the numbers don't lie. Excluding New York and LA, Most all polls and surveys favor the christian lifestyle and tend to reject the lgbt lifestyle.Yell and scream in the streets all you want you can't change that fact.As I have said you are your own worst enemies, the lgbt's actions hurt yourselves more than any conservative commentary ever will.The lgbt lifestyle is kinda like the baggy pants the thugs wore ,just a trend -and trends die out.You can see it in popular culture that the tide is turning slowly because broadcasters have seen ratings fall ever more in these liberal programs.Classic example--Rachel Madcow--her ratings suck and are getting worse, they already got rid of Olbermann.Remember how the sraight women used to have a gay sidekick ,( kinda like having an gucci bag on their arm), you don't see that much anymore because the lgbt lifestyle has become last years fashion.
What nonsense.
America should be liberty and justice for all, not just the popular people.
Gay CITIZENS are entitled to EQUAL rights no matter what the majority thinks.
As to it being a "trend" more nonsense. Was Julius Caesar a trend? Hercules and Iolus? Frederick the Great? Michaelangelo? David and Jonathan? Aristotle? Hadrian?
This is america -the majority rules. In our voting system, in our court system( jurors), in the federal goverment( house and senate), in the state legeslature.You can't beat the numbers and in this country we have the numbers, sorry for ya!!!!!
gast, first off, i'm not a dude, but i'm impressed you would offer to hug one. i gave up trying to "debate" with you some time ago as it is impossible to do so with one that relies on faith instead of reason, dogmatism instead of critical thinking. you have a mind set that works for you (i assume you are a white, heterosexual man by your posts and demeanor) i do hope someone is around that can give you a hug, because you obviously need one. i don't ask for special considerations, just equal treatment under the law, without the bible being brought into it. just because it is your sacred text does not make it everyones. you live by it, or by your interpretation of it, just don't impose it on me or my fellow americans that have no interest in your beliefs. most people don't need an engraved stone to remind them of basic human morality set forth in your ten commandments,,,if you do, i suggest taping a copy on your bathroom mirror.
I gave up trying to debate you along time ago as it is impossible to do so with one that relies on lgbt lifestyle instead of reason, dogmatism instead of critical thinking.You have a mind set that works for you( i assume you are a white gay man by your post and demeanor)I do hope someone is around to that can give you a hug because you obviously need one.I don't ask for speacial considerations, just equal treatment under the law, without the lgbt lifestyle being brought into it.Just because it is your lifestyle does make it everyone's.You live by it, or your interpretation of it, just don't impose it on me or my fellow americans that have no interest in your lifestyle.Most people don't need an engraved stone to remind them of basic human morality set foth in my ten commandments,,, but you do, I suggest taping a copy to your batroom mirror.
Sometimes you just have to use their own arguement against them.But hey they are liberals, I am sure one will come up with an arguement against their arguement.
This is from the ten commandments commentary, but thought it would apply here also.
Haha. Gay is a phase like baggy pants. Or like your dated Hank Williams JR look. Get real. You live in TN. Get a clue. People like you are the reason we are the laughing stick of the country. No debating necessary.
Tony, I'm starting to think that you're a right-wing parody like Angry White Patriot. But then again, there are a lot of ditto heads out there.
How can our elected officials legislate to end bullying when they are all bullies themselves?
Oh, Tony Paredes is no parody. He's a real deal, shit-for-brains, God-hates-fags, bible thumpin' jackass. And an internet tough guy too. I say he is all hat and no cattle.
Moost,
The one person responsible for Tennessee voting on unverifiable voting equipment is Brook Thompson, the former State Election Coordinator before the TN/RICOs appointed Mark "Human Error" Goins, one of the more prominent graduates of Pat Robertson Law School. Brook was the only state official who served on the Board of Directors of the Election Center (a shady group funded by the voting machine companies which has changed its name several times since) because all other states have ethics rules about participating in such blatant conflicts-of-interest.
Having watched Brook in action for several years, it is difficult to tell which political party he belongs to, even though he worked under a Democratic Secretary of State. However one thing is certain. The day that Tre "Too Tall" Hargett and the other TN/RICO flying monkeys took control of the Secretary of State's office, they fired everyone and told them to clean out their desks and exit the premises pronto.
Everyone, that is, except Brook Thompson. Brook got a promotion and a raise. Very interesting to most folks concerned about trustworthy elections, but of no interest whatsoever to the corporate media or the TN/RICOs. As they would say:
"Move along now. Nothing to see here."
Tony, you're on the wrong side of history, just like the Bull Connors of the world were 50 years ago. You're too stupid and brainwashed to see it. Gast, otoh, isn't stupid, but he knows change is coming and he can't stop it, but he still hates it.
In 50 years, people are going to look back and laugh at you neanderthals.
LGBT have a significantly higher rate of premature death due to homicide, drug abuse, stds, suicide, etc. It is a VERY dangerous set of choices especially for teens. That alone should be reason to get/stay straight. To blame bullies and by some illogical extension the legislature is akin to blaming the alligator for biting your hand when you place it in his mouth.
Most folks I know don't care what you do with your sex life. Why do I have to know you're homosexual? Because you "must" tell me. LGBT are already protected by the 7th amendment to the US constitution. Anything else is "special" rights. LGBT aren't endangered by anything other than the consequences of the decisions they make.
If anyone deserves "culpability" in this young person's suicide it is the GLBT community that constantly tells everybody how great it is to come out. If somehow passing pro homosexual laws would make life better I'd be all for it. However, lowering moral standards has a well documented history of higher costs to society in general and disasterous affects for individuals in particular. Telling the LGBT that they're wrong is what these laws are designed to prevent. They don't want to face the reality anymore than a dog wants to be kept from its vomit.
History also shows us very well that societies and cultures that embrace BTGL agenda are doomed to fall and fall hard!
To somehow compare special rights for GLBT to the struggle for civil rights is utterly absurd. We cannot control our race, skin color, or nation of origin. To state that you specifically cannot control your sexual desires/actions indicates that you have no control of anything in your life and should be segregated from the rest of society. Haven't we learned anything from Penn State, wikileaks, or Catholic church scandals?
Have all the parades you want...just don't expect a big crowd of supporters for your self inflicted victim and denial fest.
You can ignore reality...but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring reality...Ayn Rand.
Ya'll are for diversity as long as it conforms to what you want to hear...good luck with that!
ALL of the people of Tennessee have blood on their hands, and you are all responsible for this young boys suicide. Who Me? you say? YES, YOU. For all of you who voted for these folks, for all of you who are homophobic, and MOST OF ALL, all of you who remain SILENT in the presence of EVIL and in this case anti gay HATE. WWJD? He would smite all of you who hate as well as all who remain SILENT. Tennessee and all the human trash who reside there, you are guilty, guilty as charged. A monkey state indeed. You people have learned nothing over the last 200 years and your state will continue to be at the bottom of the heap...oh, sorry, just above Mississippi and Alabama.
Wow, Tennessee is a big joke, this "dude" Tony is an even bigger one. It's 2012 buddy, get over yourself and your pitchfork yielding views. People should be treated with respect, period. These aren't self inflicting choices or lifestyles, these are real people with real problems. Just like you have. Get a clue cowboy.
Tennessee is not a big joke. The spelling of your first name is a joke. I don't know where you live but if you think you don't have stupids like Tony then you're nutty. Geographical boundaries have NOTHING to do with stupidity or racism. It may manifest itself differently in different cultures, but it is the same everywhere. People are people where ever you go. Witness Martin Luther King's visit to Chicago in 1966.
Where were you when you chose your sexuality? Did you choose to be heterosexual because the bible said to do so? Bullshit. The notion is preposterous except for a tiny fraction of the populace who are genetically disposed to go either way. You're born the way you are, therefore so are homosexuals. You have a much choice in your sexuality as you do your hair color, none.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
You can count on the bigots to leap at any excuse to imagine themselves superior to anyone else.
The best way to shut a bully up is hit him in the mouth. Worked for me, dozens of times.
This debate will probably last through 2028 when the democrats retake
the legislature and every one of these problems will be solved! Until then
we will continue to have lots of meth use and suicides. Just blame it on
Bush/Cheny/and Ramsey in the meantime.
Old Hickory tough guy - tell us some of your fairytales. We need proof of your internet toughness.
