Saturday, October 9, 2010

Blogjack: The Theatre Community Rallies Against Gay Suicides

UPDATED: There's another link at the bottom to more "It Gets Better" PSAs from stage and screen stars.

Given the recent spate of high profile teen suicides due to being outed or bullied or gay-bashed, I really wanted to devote a blog to to the topic.  I, myself, have been in these horrible situations, and when I was younger and struggling, I, too, felt helpless and hopeless.  Dangerous thoughts went through my mind regularly.  Thank God I didn't go through with it.  There is, in fact, hope after high school.

When you read about these sad cases or see them on TV, it is (or should be) devastating and should make a loving human being angry and moved to do something.  Even sadder is the fact that for every one event that makes the news, there are dozens more that go unreported by the press.




The Ellen DeGeneres Show, MTV and various other media outlets have taken time to address this issue with PSAs and pleas for understanding.  Organizations like The Trevor Project and wegiveadamn.org are places to go for support and help.  If you are reading this and you are struggling with who you are, please take it from someone who has been there.  No matter how low or hurt or confused you are, you are not alone, and working through it is so worth it.  There is a lot of life to live and, perhaps most important now, there is a lot of support out there for you.  Don't give up... you will miss so much of what life has to offer if you do.


PLAYBLOG at Playbill. com has compiled several PSAs on this topic all in one place.  I urge you to go to this address and hear what Broadway stars like Idina Menzel, Neil Patrick Harris, Daniel Radcliffe, Charles Busch, Elton John and many more have to say.  Below that, find out the "It Gets Better" from the Broadway Company of Chicago.

http://www.playbill.com/playblog/2010/10/busch-colfer-harris-menzel-radcliffe-martin-and-more-speak-out-against-hate-crimes-video/

NEW!
http://www.playbill.com/playblog/2010/10/kyle-dean-massey-zachary-quinto-john-tartaglia-and-friends-speak-their-minds-on-bullying-video/

Thank you for your time.

Jeff
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