On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes and at their schools. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and schools. RIP Tyler Clementi, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase and Billy Lucas. You are loved.
On the web today, my icon is the purple ribbon of a survivor of domestic violence. October is DV awareness month. It's fitting that today we are calling out bullies with the same symbols. The kid who viciously and chronically bullies other kids, if not stopped, will continue to be a bully. Bullies lash out at those they can reach, and those they can get away with bullying. The school bully often grows up to be the man who physically assaults his wife and children, or the woman who beats her kids. We need to stop bullies when they're young. Once they get older, they may not be fixable.
I am a survivor of homophobic bullying, and a survivor of domestic violence. Both almost killed me, but I got out. It can happen to anyone. And it does get better.
