Rutgers University freshman, Tyler Clementi, jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge in New York after his room mate and a friend secretly recorded a video of him engaged in a sexual encounter with another young man.
AP reports:
Clementi's roommate, Dhraun Ravi, and fellow Rutgers freshman Molly Wei, both 18, have been charged with invading Clementi's privacy. Middlesex County prosecutors say the pair used a webcam to surreptitiously transmit a live image of Clementi having sex on Sept. 19 and that Ravi tried to webcast a second encounter on Sept. 21, the day before Clementi's suicide.This is just the latest case of kids killing themselves over being bullied for being gay. Asher Brown, 13, shot himself in the head with his stepfather's gun on September 23rd after years of torment that was ignored by school teachers and administrators.
A lawyer for Ravi, of Plainsboro, did not immediately return a message seeking comment. It was unclear whether Wei, of Princeton, had retained a lawyer.
Collecting or viewing sexual images without consent is a fourth-degree crime. Transmitting them is a third-degree crime with a maximum prison term of five years.
Another 13-year old from Seattle, Seth Walsh was taken off life support yesterday after hanging himself due to prolonged bullying over his sexual orientation.
On September 9th, 15-year-old Billy Lucas died after hanged himself from for the same reason.
How many more?
This video comes via MSNBC.com
This is a serious...very real problem in this country...and yes..right here in SW Virginia! I believe it is the responsibility of ALL (older) GLBT folks to work to ensure these kids stop taking their lives. We need to work on local levels to initiate, and continue support systems for those many,many youth who are coming to terms with their true identities. Needless to say..the public needs to get a grip on itself and NOT tolerate any form of bullying or discrimination within our schools etc.
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