SYRACUSE --
It's National Coming Out Day, a movement started to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people raise awareness about gay rights issues. This year the day has special significance in light of several instances of teen suicide in the gay community.
In late September, 18-year-old Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge. His suicide came days after his roommate allegedly streamed video online of him with another man in his dorm room.
In Oklahoma, 19-year-old Zach Harrington killed himself after attending a city council meeting in support of recognizing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender History month in his city. Harrington's father says he had been bullied at school for being gay, and the cruelty expressed at the Normal City Council meeting may have pushed him over the edge.
Now, groups in Central New York are speaking out about the resources they offer for the LGBT community. At Syracuse University, the LGBT Resource Center is launching it's "You are Not Alone" initiative. Hundreds of people will be wearing T-shirts across campus to indicate to any student who needs help or support that there are places they can go. At 7:00 p.m. the organization is also hosting a movie and discussion in the Gifford Auditorium at SU about LGBT bullying and suicide issues.
For younger teens, AIDS Community Resources offers the Q Center. Hundreds of students every year spend time at the center, where they can use the computer, read books, help design murals, or just relax in a safe environment. The Q Center's purpose is twofold. They want teens to feel safe while they're there, but they also want that tolerance to spread to the greater community.
Click these links for more information on National Coming Out Day, the Tyler Clementi Story, the Zach Harrington Story, the Q Center and the LGBT Resource Center at SU, which can also be reached by phone at 315-443-3983.
