I am sure many of you have heard about the bullying incidents in the news lately. Many of the stories getting attention involve young people who have been teased and harassed due to their sexual orientation. It is tragic that any child could be tormented for any reason to the point that they would want to end their own life.
Ellen Degeneres posted a few thoughts on the topic recently and I thought it was worth blogging about to get the word out. Please watch.
It is going to take everyone in the entire community to help end this crisis. It is great that the media is helping to shed light on the topic, but the truth is that suicide due to taunting happens all too frequently–and more than any of us probably realize.
Theatre Action Project programs promote being a “Courageous Bystander.” A Courageous Bystander stands up for people around them who are targeted, even if it is not a friend. A Courageous Bystander recognizes when someone is being targeted and does something to help like letting an adult know, befriending the target or even, when safe, communicating with the bully to stop. If you think that one of our programs might be able to help you or your school address bullying, homophobia, and harassment, please contact us. We want to help. These TAP programs tackle bullying head on:
Please spread the word in your community that bullying is not only wrong, but incredibly damaging and can even lead to the loss of life. Please help young people to see how their words and actions can so deeply affect another. Please teach young people that it is our duty to stand up for people who are targeted for being “different.” No one should be targeted for anything, period.
Sincerely,
Karen LaShelle
TAP
Executive Director
