Well it wasn't the yellow brick road, it was just the rainbow crosswalk in Toronto's gay village. But it did lead to an amazing place. A celebration so big that two million people are expected to attend, and at one point 25 city blocks will have to be closed off. And all I could think was, we have come a long way eh? And so has Canada.
It's been about a week since Jamie Hubley killed himself. And although for a while I was so sad I could hardly write about this tragedy, now I'm feeling better.
Because now I've seen how many young Canadians have been moved to action.
I have been encouraged by the amount of attention his death has received in the MSM, after so many years of shameful silence. And this was a pleasant surprise.
But here's the thing eh?
When it comes to the Harper Cons words are not enough.
Dan Savage, the Seattle columnist who started the “It Gets Better” movement, wrote that Canada’s Conservatives who have made it worse for gays and lesbians in the past can have evolving views.
“But it’s going to take more than a video to undo the damage done by Vic Toews and Canada’s conservatives,’’ Savage wrote. “This was, quite literally, the least Vic and his conservatives could do. The very least.’’
Because in five years in power they have done NOTHING to fight bullying and homophobia. Nothing to break the cycle of hate.
Now is the time for the Harper government to redeem itself by supporting a national strategy to fight bullying and homophobia in our schools. If they did that I still wouldn't vote for them, but I would be the first to applaud them.
Because I believe in the power of redemption, and protecting children, gay or straight, should not be a partisan issue, just the right, decent, and HUMAN thing to do.
So I never have to watch a Canadian kid cry out for help.
I know a lot about suicide. Ever since I saw a young straight couple jump in front of a train at the McGill Metro station I have tried to do what I can to prevent it.
I have worked as a volunteer in the mental health system in Montreal and Toronto. In the last few days I have been too tired to blog because I have been visiting a colleague who tried to kill himself, and the experience has left me physically drained, and emotionally numb.
I wanted to write so badly about the awesome Occupy movement. But I just couldn't. So the last thing I needed to read tonight was this sad story.
Another gay kid murdered by bullies. In a country that doesn't care enough about this crime against the young.
Being sad is sad : /. I’v been like this for way to long. I cant stand school, I cant stand earth, I cant stand society, I cant stand the scars on my arms, I cant fucking stand any fucking thing.
I dont want my parents to think this is their fault either… I love my mom and dad : ) Its just too hard. I dont want to wait 3 more years, this hurts too much. How do you even know It will get better? Its not.
So tragically similar to so many others...
The slashed arms, the bandaged wrists, the cries for help that were never answered. I know them all. I know that about 95 percent of the young people who try to kill themselves are suffering from some kind of mental illness like depression or schizophrenia. I know the warning signs.
I know we need to invest more money in our mental health system. I know we need to smash the stigma and talk more openly about mental illness and the problem that is killing so many Canadians. From native teens to men in their eighties.
And above all I know that bullying can drive a depressed kid to suicide. And it must STOP.
It will get better. But only when we as a society MAKE it better.
You know....I support the Occupy movement because I want a kinder, gentler, world where bigotry and bullying and cruel things don't happen. Where people come before profits and war machines.
And that day can't come soon enough.
Poor Jamie Hubley. Another gay kid murdered by homophobia.
Going out lonely.
Singing this song...
Born this way.To die at fifteen.
When will the slaughter end? What kind of country are we?
