Hosted by NYU LGBTQA student leaders and Delta Lambda Phi

UPDATE: Please bring glowsticks instead of candles. There is a very strict no candle policy in the park and we do NOT want to be shut down on a technicality. http://www.michaels.com/ <----- 15 glowsticks for a dollar available here! You can also bring chalk if you plan on staying for the chalking portion of the vigil!

Very... [read more]

Hosted by NYU LGBTQA student leaders and Delta Lambda Phi

UPDATE: Please bring glowsticks instead of candles. There is a very strict no candle policy in the park and we do NOT want to be shut down on a technicality. http://www.michaels.com/ <----- 15 glowsticks for a dollar available here! You can also bring chalk if you plan on staying for the chalking portion of the vigil!

Very recently, SIX young men(and unfortunately counting) between the ages of 13 and 19 have died from suicide as a result of homophobic bullying:

Asher Brown(age 13)
Seth Walsh(age 13)
Justin Aaberg(age 15)
Billy Lucas (age 15)
Tyler Clementi (age 18)
Raymond Chase (age 19)

And they are only the people we know about. WHEN WILL THIS STOP?

Students at NYU are asking that we all come together as a collective community to remember these young men as well as all of those we have lost due to hatred and bigotry.

It's time to mobilize. The vigil will start promptly at 9:00pm in Washington Square Park underneath the arch. Please bring your own glowstick if you have one as there will be a limited amount available. We will have at least 2,000 glowsticks to provide. The event will culminate in a chalking session in honor of the 2nd annual "You-Are-Loved Chalk Messaging Project." This project is meant to provide uplifting messages as well as shed light on the amount of bullying, harassment, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts that disproportionately affect queer youth.

We need your help to get the word out! Send this group to your ENTIRE friend list. Let's show all the silenced queer youth that there ARE those out there that will accept them for who they are. No one should ever be made to feel alone in this world. We realize this is short notice, but we must act before one more precious life is lost. WE MUST LEARN TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

--Zaneta Rago

"You Gotta Give Them Hope" --Milk

"Things will get easier. People's minds will change. And you should be alive to see it" --Ellen


RESOURCES:

IT GETS BETTER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IcVyvg2Qlo

"You-Are-Loved Chalk Message Project": http://chalkmessages.org/

The Trevor Project: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

http://nyaf.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-you-are-loved-chalk-message-project.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316319/NY-student-Tyler-Clementi-commits-suicide-gay-sex-encounter-online.html

http://www.queerty.com/billy-lucas-15-hangs-himself-after-classmates-called-him-a-fag-one-too-many-times-20100914/

http://www.queerty.com/teenager-justin-aaberg-killed-himself-over-gay-bullying-his-mom-wont-let-anyone-forget-20100914/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ybenjamin/detail?entry_id=73326

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7220896.html

http://perezhilton.com/2010-09-30-suicide_crisis_in_america


**Please note: All participants are responsible for their own actions and safety throughout this event.