Sadly, another LGBT suicide (Norman, Oklahoma)

[MinneapolisMatt]

http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x1477594493/-I-m-sure-he-took-it-personally

NORMAN — A week after attending a Norman City Council meeting where a heated debate played out in public, 19-year-old Zach Harrington took his own life at his family’s home in Norman.

-snip-

One man said he moved to Norman because he thought it was the kind of place that would never accept the GLBT community with open arms. A woman, who described herself as “bi-racial,” said she was tired of the GLBT plight being compared to Civil Rights.

Some of those who opposed the proclamation claimed that members of the GLBT community would use it to infiltrate the public school system, essentially allowing the “gay lifestyle” to become a part of the curriculum.

Others claimed that council recognizing October as GLBT History Month was a waste of their time. Some members of the audience even suggested that any council members voting in favor of the proclamation may have trouble getting reelected. Numerous residents also claimed the Bible was their guiding light, citing the ancient text as their primary reason for opposing the proclamation and the GLBT community in general.

-snip-

Harrington’s father, Van, said he wasn’t sure why his son went to the meeting, especially after his experiences in Norman once he revealed that he was gay as a teenager. He said he feels his son may have glimpsed a hard reality at the Sept. 28 council meeting, a place where the same sentiments that quietly tormented him in high school were being shouted out and applauded by adults the same age as his own parents.

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:cry: :cry:

[msongs]

1. jesus may love you but his followers don't nt

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. ENOUGH!!!

Kids - listen to us.

Thousands of us are reaching out to you! You are loved, and you are needed. We NEED you - you are our future.

Please do not put yourself willingly into the center of bigotry hoping to hear the voice of the sane.

I am not GLBTQ, but I stand with you and I support you - and there are MORE of us than there are of them.

DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT.

[handmade34]

5. what you said... ENOUGH!

I want to stop crying over this... we must do something :cry:

[Just One Woman]

3. What will it take?

I do not see how people can raise their religion high while spouting such awful things. It happens here in Tennessee quite a bit and it is sickening. My thoughts are with his family and to anyone who feels so alone out there. Strength comes from inside with the love and joy you share with people you love. We are all different in one way or another. Please, if anyone is out there reading this, feeling like Zach did, know there many accepting people. You may not be around them right now but we are out there. People really do get to be who they are, even when there are those that will never accept it. Your happiness is not up to those who condemn. They don't get to say how you feel inside.

[glinda]

16. Answer: The President and Government must step in and pass proclamations

or laws that lift the GLBT community up. That is what! Our Government must stand up for rights! They must also have harsh penalties on all this taunting and hate speech that pushes children over the edge. NOW!

[RKP5637]

4. These people use religion as their big tent under which to practice their

hatred and bigotry, and feel good about themselves.

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. I am outraged and I don't know what to do about it.

I am a Christian. Jesus must be weeping over this kind of treatment in his name. I know I am.

[RKP5637]

8. Years ago when I went to church as a child it was all about good things, helping

others, spreading love and kindness, being accepting of others and many things like that. I remember well the Golden Rule being posted on the wall at Sunday School and I've always thought that made so much sense.

I too am outraged with what I see and hear from these people today professing to be religious. I keep remembering what I was taught, something like the devil comes in many forms and wearing many disguises.

These people today spouting how religious they are and then their evil acts frankly would crucify Jesus all over again.

I'm not a religious person, but I do remember and practice the good things I was taught.

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. That sounds like my past too.

I just don't get Supply Side Jesus. I get anti-abortion, but Jesus was much, much, much more about social issues than that. The right got hijacked and blackmailed into voting against the good of society over that ONE issue. Now, we all suffer because of it.

[dkf]

6. The council passed the GLBT proclamation in favor of the measure by 7-1 and the comments were evenly

For and against.

[nomorenomore08]

13. Looks like the "against" comments did their job, though.

:(

[dkf]

14. But the irony is they passed gay friendly legislation but the debate itself sent this poor kid

Over the edge.

Was there really any possibility he would have avoided this forever?

[Odin2005]

9. OMG!

:cry:

[bigwillq]

10. So sad.

:( RIP, Zach. :cry:

[Terra Alta]

12. It's so sad

how many Christians use the Bible to defend their hatred.

Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. I am a Christ-follower, and I think Jesus would be ashamed of these people. Of course, if Jesus was alive today, these people would be the first in line to have him crucified.

[backscatter712]

15. Moral distortions caused by belief in the invisible man in the sky...

The Invisible Man says gays are icky, therefore, you must be a good Christian and subject them to bullying, harassment, social exclusion, and maybe some good old fashioned violence! :crazy:

[a la izquierda]

17. I wish, somehow, this kid would have crossed my path.

I live in Norman. I wish I could've taken 5 minutes to talk to him. I would have told him that yes, it will get better. My mother and uncle live wonderful lives with families who love and cherish them.
I hate the bigotry in this country.

[mstinamotorcity]

18. Losing a child

under any circumstances is heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the family and the LGBT community because you have lost another voice for the cause.