To rule out the possibility that these zip codes simply had more deaths in general, the percentage of white-male violent deaths comprised of suicides is used as the main measure. These zip codes, with 125,000 people (0.34% of California’s population), had 346 suicides among white males during the period (0.77% of white-male suicides). Non-Latino whites are chosen for analysis to avoid racial differences in areas of the state that may affect suicide rates. As an admittedly problematic substitute, we tabulated suicides by white males for the 1990-2010 period in California’s gayest zip codes (San Francisco, 9411 West Hollywood, 90069 and Palm Springs, 9224, as tabulated by Trulia from census reports of the prevalence of gay male households).

It’s hard to calculate how many gay people actually commit suicide sexual preference is not a checkbox on death certificates. But very little ideation or even self-reported suicide attempts actually leads to suicide in fact, these may be an essential motivator to seek help. Yet… do you see any consistent public concern among gay activist groups, the White House and other leaders, or liberal/Left and mainstream media for the enormous issue of homophobic bullying by adults?Īre gay teens especially suicidal? There are studies indicating higher levels of self-reported suicide ideation among gay, lesbian, and transgender adolescents, young adults, and older adults. These youth are many times more likely to suffer poor health outcomes, including being “8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs, and 3.4 times more likely to report having engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse compared with peers from families that reported no or low levels of family rejection.” Worse, the limited scope of It Gets Better means even greater ignorance, isolation, and denial toward gay teens who suffer bullying and rejection by parents. It Gets Better, founded by gay activist Dan Savage and endorsed by celebrities and leaders up to the White House, extensively publicizes its mission to support lesbian, gay, and transgendered youth who are “being bullied in school.” That is certainly a worthwhile cause, but its self-imposed limitation only to peer bullying – while clearly popular – enables destructive finger-pointing at teens (one of our most pro-gay demographics) misrepresented as homophobic bullies by self-flattering grownups.

“It Gets Better” campaign contains some unwarranted messages

It Gets Better by Dan Savage