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A recent spate of gay teen suicides has left many in the LGBT community and its allies reeling in shock. An 18 year old Rutgers University student named Tyler Clementi jumped off the George Washington bridge on September 22nd, ending his own life after learning that his roommate live-streamed a sexual encounter he had with another male in his dorm room. The roommate and another friend may face possible charges for their role in Clementi’s death. In Bakersfield, California, Seth Walsh a 13 year old boy hung himself from a tree on September 23rd after being bullied for being gay. He died in the hospital nine days later. No charges are being filed. In Houston, Texas, another 13 year old Asher Brown, shot himself in the head last week after being incessantly bullied at school. Brown’s parents complained to the school for over 18 months prior to his death and claim the school did nothing about it, failing even to return their phone calls. Fifteen year old Billy Lucas of Greensburg, Indiana also hung himself from a tree in mid-September and died after being bullied by students who thought he was gay. In April of this year, two eleven year old boys of color in separate incidents killed themselves because of homophobic bullying at school: Carl Joseph Walker Hoover, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Jaheem Hererra in Georgia, Atlanta. Here in California, Governor Schwarzenegger just signed the Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act, expanding services for children as young as 12. But will that be enough to stem the suicides?

GUESTS:Darrel Cummings, Chief of Staff for the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center; Sue Rankin, Professor of Education at Pennsylvania State University and lead author of the report, the 2010 State of Higher Education for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People.

Read the 2010 State of Higher Education report here: http://www.campuspride.org/Campus%20Pride%202010%20LGBT%20Report%20Summary.pdf

National and Local Resources to combat homophobia:
THE TREVOR PROJECT: A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth.www.thetrevorproject.org (hotline: 1-866-4-U-TREVOR)

STOMP OUT BULLYING: Working to reduce Bullying and Cyberbullying, school absenteeism and truancy, educate against homophobia and racism and end violence in schools. www.stompoutbullying.org.

THE MATTHEW SHEPHERD FOUNDATION: To support diversity programs in education and to help youth organizations establish environments where young people can feel safe and be themselves. www.matthewshepard.org.

GLSEN: Organization for students, parents, and teachers that tries to affect positive change in schools. www.glsen.org.

LA GAY AND LESBIAN CENTER: A local organization building the health, advocating for the rights and enriching the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. www.laglc.org.

PFLAG: Located in and representing communities nationwide, PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. www.pflag.org.

GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE: A group that connects the California Gay/Straight Alliances to each other and community resources. Includes a directory and guide for starting a school group. www.gsanetwork.org.