After bullied gay teen Jack Reese’s suicide, Ogden, Utah to hold community meeting, candlelight vigil

After gay teen Jack Reese's suicide, Ogden,Utah to hold community
meeting, candlelight vigil

After teen's suicide, Ogden to hold community meeting, candlelight
vigilby QSaltLake Staff in Local | 6 comments

Apr 27, 12 On Monday, April 23, an 18-year-old Ogden resident on a
community panel spoke about the dangers of bullying. Alex Smith told
the packed room about the bullying his boyfriend, Jack, experienced at
school.

What no one in the room yet knew, including Alex, was that Jack had
already taken his own life.

The death of Jack Reese is the latest known suicide of a gay teen in
Northern Utah.

One official told Ogden OUTreach director Marian Edmonds, off the
record: "It happens here about once a week, but officially, you know,
it doesn't happen here."

OUTreach is hosting a community panel and discussion, A Community
Stands up – Northern Utah Addresses LGBT Bullying and Suicide on May
1, 6:30 p.m., at the Ogden Amphitheater, 343 E. 25th St., Ogden. The
purpose of the event is for the community to stand in solidarity with
queer youth, to speak out and express grief and outrage at yet another
loss of life in Northern Utah, and to witness for the need for
immediate change in schools, churches and society.

Until all youth are loved and accepted in their homes, able to attend
school without fear of bullying, and know that their lives are worth
living, this community will continue to demand change, Edmonds said in
a press release.

Numerous community leaders, educators, parents and youth will speak
out for acceptance and love for LGBT youth, including active members
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A candlelight
vigil in memory of Jack Reese will be held at the conclusion of the
event.

"The youth I work with all know either a victim of bullying, the loss
of a friend to suicide, and most often, both. These youth are bright,
creative and loving, yet too often face daily abuse from rejecting
families, bullies at school and the loss of their church family. It is
time for local schools to incorporate proven techniques for
eliminating bullying and homophobia, for churches to preach love and
acceptance, and for parents and families to love and accept their
children. Each loss of life is a loss for all of us, and it must stop
now," Edmonds said.

Edmonds underscored the need for accurate education and guidance for
ethnically and religiously diverse families and cited the work of the
Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University – a
research-based education, support and policy initiative that helps
ethnically and religiously diverse families – including Latter-day
Saint families – support their LGBT children in families, schools and
faith communities to prevent suicide, substance abuse, HIV,
homelessness, school victimization and family disruption. FAP uses a
culturally grounded approach that strengthens families and promotes
their LGBT children's well-being. FAP's family education materials are
available online in three languages at
familyproject.sfsu.edu/publications.

More:

http://qsaltlake.com/2012/04/27/after-teens-suicide-ogden-to-hold-community-meeting-candlelight-vigil/comment-page-1/


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Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy



--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

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