19YO Former Howard Univ Student Aiyisha Hassan Commits Suicide
 

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This is really troubling. What the hell is going on?

I'd be curious to know if the statistics are up, or if the media is just making us more aware of the problem.

Either way it is sad.

I believe that (although unfortunate) this is now a contagion effect.

^^^ Good point (@ RaggedyAnn).

I'm hoping that the increased coverage doesn't spur any "copycat" suicides or attempts.

I wager that there has been no substantial increase (and racial and ethnic minorities have the lowest counts of suicide) but we are being made more aware of these incidents.

Also, my other post referenced a contagion effect. Even before the Internet, an increase in such incidents tended to be linked to people hearing about others committing suicide and therefore considering suicide a viable and perceivably "easy" alternative.

What I wonder if she committed suicide because of pressures of being LGBT or if that was just a coincidence.

That's what a contagion effect is.

We posted at the same time.

People who knew her say that it was the former.

I don't understand why it is still enough of a struggle to commit suicide. Acceptance of individuals who are LGBT is increasing rapidly. It's certainly not as bad as it was even ten years ago.

I think there was more going on. Maybe she was struggling with it, but she probably already had issues with depression that weren't tied solely to her sexuality.

I don't think he meant that the mere fact that she was a lesbian caused her to end her life. Depression, identity issues, and other factors likely worked together to push her to that point.

And although GLBT acceptance has increased in recent years, it's still vilified (very much so) by the "mainstream"

I agree, k_s.

It can also be vilified in the GLBT communities when people are unwilling to accept the diversity within. That includes diversity based on gender identities, sexuality (not sexual orientation), race and ethnicity, culture, etc. As with other power minority groups, there are those who are GLBT who believe that there is a certain way to think, identify, and behave if you are GLBT.

Rapidly doesn't mean it's done or that it's fast enough. We don't know what they experienced, but teenagers are already vulnerable to suicide. Add in parents who not only don't accept you but tell you you're a terrible person, add in classmates who write slurs on your locker or who physically harass you, and teachers who don't do anything about it.

It's enough. And just because it was worse 10 years ago doesn't mean it's great now, it means that 10 years ago you didn't know about it.

Obviously she was depressed, but there's a reason why LGBT teens kill themselves more often than straight teens...

I read somewhere that LGBT Teenagers are 4x more likely to commit suicide than the rest of the population. I'll start looking for where I read that...

This is going to get me flamed but I have to say it.

The gay community as a whole is one of the most closed minded communities I've ever come across.

They persecute bisexual people and exclude ethnic minorities (specifically black -there's an article about blacks being the least desired group to date in the gay community) as well as overweight people.

I hate to paint the gay community with a broad brush stroke because not every gay person I know is this way, but from discussions, readings, and anecdotal stories I've heard from minorities within the gay community, it's really quite shocking. (I used to work at a health center, and this was our main demographic).

And the sad thing is that they arent even aware of the hypocrisy of it all.

I dont think gay people are the sinful, sex-crazed, pedophiles that some would want you to believe, but there are some things in their community that people need to open their eyes to.

....then again...I guess you could say that for every community....

http://www.thetrevorproject.org/suic...suicidal-signs

There it is!

.

It is still terribly sad. My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones.

Ah! Thanks! My computer was running really slow so I went to re-start and I had 17 updates! I just signed back on to look for it now.

ETA: This report also states that gay teens are also 8.4% more likely to attempt suicide as well.

Then what was the point of the rest of your rant?

I really wish people would stop warning readers and pretending to be psychic. Let people form their own opinions.

Hello

you can be gay and racist. it's possible. you can also be gay and have biases against other people. so basically you're saying that a cross section of the gay community will think and function like everyone else. FASCINATING.

then don't. oh, too late.

and how do you know this?

all those dots before and after the bolded means you knew that when you came to that realization that everything you said before was void. :rolleyes:

As a trend and generalization, because many minority group members do not see the hypocrisy in being divisive and even discriminatory against other minority group members. As far as I'm concerned, depending on the topic, the jury is still out as to whether that is hypocrisy.

What he/she said before those dots was not void. He essentially said what I had already said. He just added a bunch of tone in an attempt to type something groundbreaking and flameworthy.

Actually Dr. Phil, I typed my post as an agreement to your earlier post. I thought I had quoted it but I guess I hadnt. (just like it looks like i'm not quoting you again, but oh well...its not that serious)

To other people...my "point" is that every community has issues, and that the ones I listed were the ones that urked me about the gay community...that's really all...

The points that irked you about the gay community are points that exist in other communities as well.

- Dark vs. Light-skinned blacks
- Mexican vs. Puerto Ricans vs. etc
- Degree holders vs. "Common" folks
- Rich vs. poor
etc.

No group is going to fit neatly into a box, and its members aren't necessarily going to like every other member. This is not exclusive to the gay community.

So, again, what was your point?

If you insist. People usually say "I'm going to get flamed for this" when they think they're saying something that is unpopular and that hasn't already been said.

But, congrats on getting the types of responses that you were aiming for. :)

LOL. How are you able to summarize her/his point if you don't know what her/his point is?

Xp2k's tone and vent aside, there are GLBT people who are taken aback when they find the divisions within the GLBT communities. So, while it sounds like "common sense" to some people, it is a valid observation and a valid concern that has been the subject of many discussions and internal and external conflicts.

(Is it he?) He said that he was basically co-signing with your post.

I read yours as "Yes, there may have been outside triggers, but there are also things within the GLBT community that could have affected this girl."

I read his as "OMGAWWWWD I HATE WHEN GAYS DO THIS AND THAT. IT'S SO GAY WHEN GAYS DO THESE THINGS. But everyone else does them to."

I am still trying to figure out why he posted that tirade (not what he said).

It could be a "she." :)

LOL. She/he was venting and I don't think she/he intended to co-sign my post. But, you understand the point being made when you remove all of the vent stuff. Take away the stuff like "the GLBT community gets on my damn nerves because they are some of the most closeminded." As with any other minority group, only members of the GLBT community can say things like that, perhaps replacing "they" with "we" and having a completely different connotation.

I can see that.

Perhaps if s/he had quoted your post, it wouldn't have come off as bad. But I still see it as a "10 Things I Hate About Gays" checklist rather than an alternate POV.

Yeah I acknowledge that post was wrong in tone and that's why I only quoted the part of it that mattered for my purposes. LOL. You aren't surprised because posts that say "flame" should usually say "fail" instead.

It's like my saying "Black folks get on my darn nerves sometimes" (which I say often :D) versus a nonBlack person saying it. Whatchumeanwegetonyourdamnnerves?!

Obvious statement follow: not to mention the sentiments against GLBTs within communities of different races.

/obviousstatement.