The 'Suicide Crisis' in the Gay Teen Community

I wrote recently with great sympathy for Tyler Clementi, who jumped to his death after a vicious college "prank" resulted in horrible consequences. I don't understand why some people think that posting private intimate relations to an online feed would be humorous. It's takes the actions of genuinely evil people. Yet, as I noted at the time, I'm not in favor of turning Clementi's death, or the deaths of other gay youth, into some broader crusade to expand hate crimes legislation. I'm concerned about online bullying, and I'd support ways to either regulate or criminalize that kind of activity in a narrowly-tailored fashion. But let's be clear: If leftists can leverage recent tragedies they'll be able to continue to nationalize their campaign against traditional values as "hate speech" creating a "hostile environment" for gay Americans. I'm not down with that. As we saw after the passage of Prop 8 in 2008, the left will lauch the most vicious neo-Stalinist campaigns against regular people who support conservative values. (And in conservatism I'm simply indicating what overwhelming majorities consider mainstream.)

Newsweek had an item earlier on the media's propensity to pump up the volume on an assumed "gay suicide epidemic" that is not supported by larger statistical patterns: "Is the 'Bullying Epidemic' a Media Myth?" Mentioned at the piece is the story of Seth Walsh, a 13 year-old in California who recently commited suicide after being subjected to anti-gay bigotry from classmates. And so it's interesting that today's Los Angeles Times features the story of Walsh and his family on the front page, "Gay Teen in Tehachapi Faced Daily Gantlet." It's a sad story, and I pray for the Walsh family. But I'm simply flabbergasted at how boy's death is being exploited by the Times, although I suppose I shouldn't be surprised:

The teasing and bullying began in fourth grade. At first it was because he was different — more comfortable with girls, not interested in sports, neither aggressive nor assertive — and then it was because he thought he was gay. Once classmates found out and the news spread, the abuse became more focused and cruel.

When Judy learned from her daughter that Seth was gay, she became concerned for the challenges that lay ahead of her grandson.

"Life is hard enough," she says, "but this makes it harder."

"Especially in a small town," Jim says.

Jim and Judy Walsh live on the west side of Tehachapi — about 20 minutes away from their grandchildren — in a gated community known as Bear Valley, an affluent enclave in the middle of the mountains where there are almost as many stables as there are homes.

Sitting in their living room, they talk easily about Seth. Jim is 65, a retired school principal. Judy, 69, is a retired teacher who once served on the school board.

They accept that Seth's suicide — along with the suicides of Tyler Clementi, 18, Billy Lucas, 15, and Asher Brown, 13, all within two and a half weeks — is now part of a national conversation about the consequences of being harassed and being young and gay.

RELATED: "Homosexual Urban Legend: 30% Of Teen Suicide Victims Are Homosexuals."