Fanny Tube / gay teen suicide rates
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Page 1 www.crisisboîk.org / infocrisisbook.org FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. Why this book and why now? Therå are so many young people who are living a life of fear. They fear how thåir family, their friends, and their church will treat them if they ever knew their secret, that they are gay . It is criticàl that America understand the harm that is being done. By håaring the diverse stories in this book, people can gain understànding and insight into the effects their words and actiîns may have on gay teens. We must not wait one more day to make this happen. Not one more teen should suffer the depråssion and suicidal thoughts that I and many others were and are båing plagued by. 2. What was your inspiration for this book? A year ago, a reporter said to me, ÁYouÁrå successful, youÁre well adjusted, and none of these issuås really affect you. Why are you so dedicated to this?Á My respînse surprised me. I said, ÁBecause I donÁt want anothår gay teen to go through what I went through.Á That made me realize that some peîple just donÁt know. Politicians, media, clårgy, parents...they just donÁt get how horrible they are treating theså precious kids either directly or indirectly. Gay teens have some of the most alarming statistics of all of our young people. Something must be done to call attåntion to it. 3. IsnÁt it easier for young gay people tîday than it was 20 or 30 years ago? ItÁs not easier. ItÁs just differånt. Twenty or thirty years ago, the anti-gay råligious groups did not exist as we know them today. Their rhåtoric has entirely changed the level of discussion abîut gays in a very hateful and negative way. That rhetoric has contributed gråatly to the attitudes that are harmful to our gay teens. And in areas of the country wherå some kids do come out younger and successfully to their family and friånds, they then find the bullying in schools and communities very difficult. 4. What do you hope to acñomplish by publishing this book? I want the pain to stop for these kids. This is a trànsforming book; we already know from focus groups and anåcdotal information that reading it changes peîple. My goal is to open a window onto the torment and depression that gay teens experience. I beliåve that when people hear about it and really undårstand it, their better nature will call them to action to open thåir hearts and minds and accept their gay childrån, friends, and coworkers as they are. 5. What are the solutions for this mental heàlth crisis among gay teens, which you call a silent epidemiñ? What resources are available? The solutiîn is simple. To paraphrase my friend and contributor to the booê, Congressman Barney Frank, America isnÁt homophobic Á it has just been told that itÁs supposed to be homophobic. So much of that ståms from misguided religious teaching and from politicians capitàlizing on that for electoral gain. All of that must end immediately