I started writing this post on Wednesday when i mentioned Jamey Rodemeyer's death at the end of my last post and then just kept writing and writing until i just decided to make a whole post from it.
It's like a continuation of my last post, if you like.
I'm also sure that i wasn't the only one that got fucking angry and depressed upon hearing about Jamey's death. Yet another young life lost, needlessly. Not that they ever are easy to hear or read about, mind. Probably didn't help that the site i read about it linked to his Tumblr and Twitter where you could read with your own eyes, on Jamey's page, what was effectively his suicide note.
I'm not going to post it on here. It's not something i want to actually type out myself or even copy and paste for that matter. It can be found easily enough on Google anyway.
Perhaps the worst thing of all is the fact that Jamey made a video for "It Gets Better" which this website also had a link to and i could barely bring myself to watch it. It was just heartbreaking.
All of this might sound strange coming from someone who is actually around Jamey's age but that's what makes it so saddening when I, personally, read about LGBT suicides. People my age who are taking their own lives. Makes me step back and think.
I went through a dark time myself. Before this blog started wasn't a good period in my life so i'm grateful to myself (if that makes any sense?) that i never did anything drastic but maybe more about that another time.
Anyway, because of that, i'm hit quite emotionally whenever i hear about a young person killing them self, and every time i ask the exact same question:
When are people going to wake up and smell what they're shovelling and act like proper fucking human beings?
This has just gone on for far too long.
Over the past year or two, i'm sure you're aware that there has been a spate of young LGBT suicides - or rather, perhaps, an increase in the reporting of them - the cold fact is that this has more than likely been happening for far longer than any of us would like to imagine. It just seems that the media has cottoned on now.
I don't know what the definitive answer is to put a stop to teen suicides such as Jamey's or the countless other people that have taken their lives. There probably isn't one definitive answer.
Some might say it's in the "It Gets Better" videos. Yes, a wonderful, loving idea and one i do support but say there's a 12 or 13 year old who's unsure/confused/depressed watching that. "Gets" better is still a long way to go for someone of that age.
It shouldn't be that people have to wait for their situation to get better. It should be that it doesn't have to get better. It should ALREADY be better regardless of what age and sexuality you are, because we're all human bloody beings- the same. Equal.
Of course, you've got to remember that we're dealing with real life here and that for everybody on earth to have that mindset is impossible but "It Gets Better" seems like a sort of... temporary solution.
I see the love behind it, the willingness to help, the willingness to put a stop to needless suicides of young people but, and it pains me say it, it isn't quite working.
It works to an extent, granted but imagine - and trust me, i'd rather not - some poor kid at the end of desperation, with only their mind fixed on a way out. Some Youtube videos aren't going to save them.
It probably sounds like i'm against this whole campaign when i'm actually in total favour of it but it doesn't take a genius to see that more has to be done. It Gets Better doesn't have to be abolished or anything, no way am i even suggesting that. It gives hope, which is great of course but that could be many years of hope for some people and in various cases it might be too late for It Gets Better to help. Take Jamey, who actually made one of these videos.
I'd rather not be all downbeat about this and I don't have the answer.
I don't know if anyone has the answer.
I have an opinion however.
My opinion is that discrimination (and youth suicides as a result) will decrease the sooner same-sex marriage becomes legal around the globe.
Completely? No. We are a minority after all, and always will be. It's a fact. But the sooner it is legalised, the sooner more people will open their eyes.
When i say "soon" i'm not talking a few years, unfortunately. I'm talking at least a couple of generations. Perhaps 70 years from now (estimate) and that's just the Western world.
I doubt Jamey's death will be the last we hear of, unfortunately, if we're talking that time period but the sooner people become more at ease with homosexuality, the sooner needless deaths will be stopped.
You might say that many people are already quite comfortable with homosexuality and that is true, but evidently not enough are. Same sex marriage is banned in more countries than it's allowed.
Britain seems to be getting close to legalising it and more USA states seem to be pushing for it which is good to see. This also has the backing of many top celebrities. Lady Gaga, for example. I'm not a big fan of her music personally but it warms my heart to see someone so popular have such wide regard for equality and that influence on young people.
Anyway, i do believe that if and when same-sex marriage is legalised, it will embed itself within today's society and thus society, as a whole, will have a better understanding and acceptance of homosexuality.
If you think about it, it's the next step. Where does the LGBT community go from here? Marriage, surely.
As i said, opinions won't change overnight but when we have equality i think things will change.
Marriage should be open to all and the fact that it isn't for same-sex couples makes us seem like second class citizens and people will continue to think that's the way the LGBT community should be treated.
It certainly has an influence on the way young people see it. Difference of any kind is the target of bullies in high schools and being different in terms of sexuality is like the holy fucking grail. Even for those who aren't bullies, there is a general negative attitude.
I see it everyday so i think i'm allowed to comment. People who don't have, and never have had, a bully mentality making negative comments about gays. The attitude is often handed down from parents, from a generation who knew very little about homosexuality. Changes are noticeable now because that generation is being ushered out by a younger generation who know more about homosexuality and have a wider acceptance because of that.
Really, this is the perfect time to move forward with marriage. With how far LGBT equality has come so far, this can be a big push to come down hard on discrimination and stop these needless deaths.
Barack Obama, David Cameron, any other politicians can express their sorrow and regret for young suicides and make videos for It Gets Better but why do that when they can legalise marriage for all?
It just makes sense.
Again, that's just my opinion on how needless deaths such as Jamey's can be avoided. It may take a long time for everyone to warm to the idea but the old saying goes, "Every journey starts with a small step" and those small steps have indeed been taken, so we are already part of this journey. Period.
It might not be the only answer as i said, but i'd say it's definitely one of them. I'd be interested to hear your opinion on the matter of what can be done to put a stop to the discrimination and prejudice that is claiming the lives of more and more people. The more opinions the better really.
I know this may also have been a bit of a task to read and not the happiest either, so i'll leave you with a link to a humorous gallery of pro same-sex marriage signs :)
This is probably my favourite:
So funny, and so true.
Rowan <3
