Another gay suicide - this time in Norman, Oklahoma

[kevinbgoode]

A week after attending a tumultuous city council meeting over recognition of LGBT History Month in Norman, Oklahoma, another young man has killed himself at the home of his family. Some family members are attributing part of the cause of this suicide on his experiences coming out in a local high school added to some rather vile statements in opposition to the city council's vote to recognize LGBT History Month.

Naturally, the most toxic verbiage (along with the spewing of rightwing talking points) came from self-proclaimed "Christians," who ignored the sins of members of their own religion to concentrate on some amazingly vile, willfully ignorant testimony about the imagined "lifestyle" of the LGBT community. One bi-racial woman, who insisted she resented gays using their private relationships as a "civil rights" issue, proudly proclaimed her "christianity" while ignoring that her personally selected and interpreted "religious" beliefs - which are PRIVATELY chosen, are protected by the same anti-discriminination laws. She was, of course, a self-claiming sexuality expert about homosexuals and their inability to "reproduce" . . .I'm rolling my eyes.

It seems to me that a society which allows the willfully ignorant to reproduce and the raise willfully ignorant children, deciding which "religious" belief best suits the prejudices they wish to instill in those children, which "religious" views they wish to impose upon other citizens, can certainly allow the LGBT population the same access to rights which these morons claim as their own. I'm sick and tired of listening to these self-righteous, weak-minded, faith-based hate-co-dependent sociopaths go on their damn rants. Why is it so hard for people in this country to stand up to the bigots - hell, you don't even have to call them bigots. When some wingnut alleged "Christian" starts telling me all about their special connection to hate based on Jesus, I never hesitate to remind them about the amazingly long list of others in their flock with a damnable history of willful sin. I also never hesitate to remind them that I view religion as a private choice and a private thing, and view people who need to wear it on their sleeves as likely not really very faithful...and that they sound as if they use their "God" as a second husband/wife or surrogate.

That being said, this poor 19-year-old kid, who did endure many taunts and exposure to some of America's worst practitioners of irrational insanity, is now dead. And you can bet that every rightwing nutcase who spews such vile, bullying hatred while pretending to ground it on the white baby Jesus, will immediately deny having any influence on this young man.

Here is the story from the Norman, Oklahoma newspaper:

http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x1477594493/-I-m-sure-he-took-it-personally

And you can see a video clip of part of the citizens commentary at the city council meeting here:

http://www.queerty.com/suicide-oklahomas-zach-harrington-19-kills-himself-after-hateful-town-meeting-20101010/#fin_anime


Listening to some of these people just makes me shake my head - and makes me angry. I wish I had been at the meeting, because someone needs to start speaking up and getting back into their faces in the same manner their vile, irrational phobia gets projected onto the public - and onto other citizens.

[Warren DeMontague]

1. A gay kid growing up in Oklahoma.

Man, That's gotta be a tough gig.

Enough, already.
Rest In Peace.

[meowomon]

2. RIP, poor kid

I too was a suicidal gay youth. Luckily, I didn't die when I tried. Now I say fuck 'em!

We're here. We're queer, now get the fuck outta my way!

[quaker bill]

3. Been to and stayed in Norman, OK

I could not leave soon enough, and I am straight. I was just skinny and had long hair at the time.... My impression, while admittedly limited by only being there a month, was that it was a really depressing place.

[xchrom]

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