The Relationship Between Gay Suicides, Bullying and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Yesterday a federal appeals court granted an injunction sought by our government against the lower court's order abolishing the armed forces' "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The injunction was sought by our Justice Department. Although much will be written about the fact that our president (elected after campaigning with the slogan "Change You Can Believe In"), had the ability to instruct the Justice Department not to challenge the ban and did not, there is an issue at play here which it seems, little has been said about in recent weeks, despite all of the sympathetic press over the issue of teen bullying and gay suicides.

In the face of these suicides, a movement of sorts has begun. In the past two weeks the issue of these suicides has landed front and center in the media, and all over the Internet. We have seen celebrities come out to make statements supporting teens who are struggling with issues of coming out and bullying. We have seen a nationwide campaign arise to provide support as well, as the campaign to wear purple, which spread all over the country via the Internet, has demonstrated. We have seen politicians taking up the cause, most notably, Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns with his heart-wrenching speech made last week before the City Council, which has been viewed now millions of times on the Internet and replayed in numerous television news programs. Despite this groundswell of support from the public in an effort to stop more young people from taking their own lives, what is clearly missing from the dialogue is the ongoing sanctioning by our government of lesser treatment for gay people. Is it any wonder then, that in this so-called enlightened day and age, young people continue to be tormented by their peers because of their sexual orientation?

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