October 6, 2010


Dear Friend,

As you probably saw in the news recently, Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi jumped off a bridge after his roommate surreptitiously broadcast online an intimate encounter between Tyler and another man.

Tragically, Tyler's death was just one of a number of suicides committed in recent weeks by teens who were harassed by their classmates because they were gay or perceived to be gay.

In Texas, for example, 13-year-old Asher Brown shot himself after enduring relentless taunting at his middle school. In California, 13-year-old Seth Walsh hanged himself when he couldn't take the bullying any longer ― as did Billy Lucas, 15, in Indiana.

This is just the toll from September ― and only the suicides that made headlines.

Thankfully, the crisis of anti-gay bullying is now getting national attention.

But putting a stop to it is another matter. Through our renowned Teaching Tolerance project, we've launched a major campaign to combat anti-gay bullying in our schools.

Just last night in Washington, D.C., we premiered an important new documentary film ― Bullied: A School, a Student and a Case that Made History ― that will be shown this fall in thousands of schools and communities across America. This powerful film chronicles the story of a Wisconsin student who stood up to his tormentors and won a landmark federal court decision holding that school officials could be held accountable for not stopping the harassment and abuse of gay students.

Our film, along with its viewer's guide, is designed for both classroom use and teacher professional development. We're making it available ― free of charge ― to every school in America.

Unfortunately, organizations like Focus on the Family are pushing schools to ignore this crisis. They say that schools should remain "neutral" and not mention gay and lesbian students in their bullying policies.

But history teaches us that this is the wrong approach. As Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel said, "Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim."

We know nothing will change, and thousands of children will continue to suffer violence and humiliation, until schools confront the problem head on. We need every school in America to adopt a strong anti-bullying policy that specifically protects gay students. No child should ever feel unsafe at school.

You can help.

Please talk to educators in your community to see whether your schools have adopted policies to prevent anti-gay bullying. If not, urge them to do so immediately. And urge them to order a free copy of Bullied for their school. Your action could save lives and help prevent families from being shattered by a child's suicide.

Thank you for supporting our work. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children who are suffering from bigotry and injustice. We can help make our schools become places where all children are safe and have equal opportunities to learn.

Sincerely, J. Richard Cohen President, Southern Poverty Law Center

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