- Bullying leads to suicide in teens
- Study: Gay teens five times more likely to suicide
- First opening gay bishop conducting seminars on gay marriage
- “Progress towards gay marriage is inevitable,” he says
ONE of the world’s most high-profile gay rights advocates has urged Prime Minister Julia Gillard to support gay marriage and help end suicide by gay teenagers.
Gene Robinson, an adviser to US President Barack Obama on gay marriage, said prohibiting gay marriage was a form of oppression that denied hope to lonely and isolated gay teens.
“I would remind her of the importance of leadership [on this issue],” said Mr Robinson, who encouraged Ms Gillard to follow Kevin Rudd’s declaration of support.
“There is no overstating what a difference that can make to the 15-year-old who is going to hang himself because of all the negative things he has been hearing about being homosexual.
“I’m not talking about urban kids in the elite areas of Sydney or Melbourne, but someone in a tiny town far, far away from the city who feels isolated and hopeless.
“It’s about giving kids the hope that one day, like everyone else, they can be happy, get married and have a family, whether it’s two mothers, two fathers.
“The progress towards gay marriage is inevitable and time is important, otherwise we have young people jumping off bridges.”
A 2011 study by New York’s Columbia University found that gay, lesbian and bisexual teens were five times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual counterparts due to bullying, discrimination and self acceptance.
Brisbane psychologist Dr Paul Martin told news.com.au that, in Australia, gay and lesbian teens without parental support were eight times more likely to attempt suicide than those who had parental support, but also many times more suicidal than their heterosexual peers.
Mr Robinson, the world’s first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal (Anglican) Church, has flown in from the US to conduct a series of seminars about gay marriage and will meet NSW politicians at Parliament House in Sydney this afternoon.
Over his 40-year priesthood, Mr Robinson has campaigned against racism and for HIV/AIDs awareness and women’s right to abortion.
He delivered the invocation for Obama’s first inauguration ceremony and when he married his long-term partner in a civil union in 2008, Mr Robinson said the president “congratulated us, hoping we found the kind of happiness he and Michelle had found”.
Mr Robinson said Obama’s public endorsement of gay marriage had inspired US states to change their laws, and had encouraged Americans to publicly come out in support of homosexuality.
In Australia he hopes to change the minds of Anglican, Catholic and Greek Orthodox church leaders who have come out against gay marriage. He said religious groups’ opposition would be seen in the future as similar to their support of slavery in past eras.
“Churches have come to apologise and ask forgiveness for using scripture to support slavery,” he said.
“There are only six or seven passages in the Bible which are used in terms of homosexuality, and they cannot be taken in a modern day context.”
Mr Robinson encouraged Ms Gillard to “listen to her constituents and to the people of Australia”.
“Your former prime minister Kevin Rudd put it so wonderfully, and it was reminiscent of Barack Obama,” he said. “What I love about [Rudd’s pro gay marriage] statement is that he alludes to the process of evolution.
“Every family knows someone who is homosexual. They have a colleague or a family member or a friend. It’s hard to find anyone under 30 who understands why gay marriage is such a big issue.”
Dr Paul Martin said self acceptance and bullying by peers were the leading causes of suicide and depression in teens.
He said parents needed to be mindful of what they said so children were able to feel comfortable coming to terms with their sexuality.
“Young people are at the highest risk of suicide in the process of coming out,” he said.
“The thing that causes distress is the fear of rejection, isolation and shame and it is particularly potent when it comes from their parents.
“The stuff that the Christian lobby is coming out with now about the children of gay and lesbian families being the so-called ‘stolen generation’ will only reinforce the feelings of kids that if they come out they are no good, sinful or disordered.”
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Author: Candiace Sutton
Publication: News.com.au
Publication Date: May 23 2013