Gay Suicides

I am working on a piece about the recent influx in suicides among gay teens.  I want to use the story to concentrate on where local youth can go for help when they need it.  It’s such a waste that teens find themselves with no other option but to kill themselves just because someone else is making fun of them or they think they won’t be accepted by their friends or family.   I personally wasn’t taunted or teased much in school but I did see some of the kids who did get teased and the hell they went through on a daily basis.  Back then we did have people and organizations to contact like PFLAG and although I’m sure they were there, we had no idea how to contact them.  With the internet and social media in this era it is our duty to point a troubled teen in the right direction, if we do not, we are just as responsible for their death as the bullies who cause them such torment in the first place.  If you know of a local organization that I should mention in my upcoming commentary, please email me information about it at GayJournalism@gmail.com or chrisjohnson@daytoncitypaper.com  subject Gay Suicides.

Thank you!

-Chris Johnson