We are lawyers,
advocates, and child welfare professionals who are
passionate about our commitment to creating a world in which
all children and youth can live safely, with the love
and support they need to become healthy, productive,
self-assured adults.
We are lawyers,
advocates, and child welfare professionals who are
passionate about our commitment to creating a world in which
all children and youth can live safely, with the love
and support they need to become healthy, productive,
self-assured adults. We are shocked and angry and
profoundly saddened by the murder of Larry King, and the
daily torment endured by countless children and youth
who identify, or are perceived, as lesbian, gay,
bisexual, or gender-variant. Like others, we are
naturally inclined to look for the cause, the failure, the
person or persons whom we can hold accountable for
this tragedy. We need look no further than our own
culture, which vilifies difference and glorifies
violence. We can scarcely tolerate the thought, but Larry
King’s death is a predictable consequence of
this societal malaise. Although it is too late to save
Larry, his death inspires us to tell the truth.
•
Homophobia kills children.
We are all too
familiar with the clichés that trivialize the daily
taunts and ridicule directed at LGBT children and
youth. “All kids tease each other." "How many
gay kids are there anyway?" "Just ignore the bullies."
"If only they wouldn’t flaunt it." "Sticks and
stones...” These sentiments ring hollow as we
struggle to comprehend Larry’s murder, and the
relentless suffering foisted upon LGBT children and
youth across this country every day. We know that the
inevitable trajectory of unchecked bigotry is hatred,
violence, suicide, and yes, murder. We categorically
reject any attempt to minimize the dangers facing LGBT
children and youth, and we refuse to wait until our
society is collectively ready to take action.
•
Hiding fuels hatred.
We are afraid for
LGBT children’s safety, and we desperately want to
protect them from harm. Some would place them in the closet
for safe keeping. But we know -- sometimes from our
own experiences -- the devastating emotional,
physical, and spiritual costs of denying one’s own
core identity. We cannot keep children safe by hiding them.
Succumbing to fear creates an environment in which
hatred thrives. Invisibility is just another, more
insidious, killer. We reiterate our commitment to
supporting the healthy development of all children and
youth, and helping them discover, integrate, and
express their sexual orientation and gender identity.
We reject the suggestion that the answer is to ask children
to pretend, lie, hide, or pass.
The
responsibility lies with us -- the adults who have created a
world in which children express the hateful attitudes
of their elders. We must redouble our efforts to
expose and condemn the ubiquitous manifestations of
homophobia and transphobia in every corner of our culture.
We must speak up, ask questions, denounce
indifference, and take action. LGBT children and youth
are suffering. The time is now.
Legal Services
for Children, San Francisco, CA
National Center
for Lesbian Rights, San Francisco, CA
Family Builders
by Adoption, Oakland, CA
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