Homophobia Continues to Take Lives

Yesterday I did a post recalling the 10th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's brutal beating in Laramie, Wyoming. One would think more people would have learned from Shepard's death, but such is not the case. Discrimination, harassment and other aspects of homophobia continue on a daily basis and continue to claim lives of young gays everyday. Two examples come from opposite sides of the world. The first comes from South Korea where a 23 year old actor (pictured at left) killed himself in apparent despair over the demise of his career following publicly acknowledging his sexual orientation. Here are highlights from The Korea Times:
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Actor Kim Ji-who was found dead in his house in an apparent suicide, police said Wednesday, the fourth suicide by an entertainer in just one month. Songpa Police Station confirmed the 23-year-old hung himself at his home in Jamsil, southern Seoul, Monday. Police said his suicide reflects public prejudice toward gay people and their difficulty in succeeding in the entertainment industry.
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Following the announcement of his sexual orientation, Kim's management agency did not renew his contract and many TV programs and fashion shows cancelled his appearances. His blog was bombarded with numerous messages denouncing his sexual orientation. ``He underwent many professional and personal difficulties following his coming-out,'' Kim's mother said during police questioning. Hong Seok-chun, Kim's aide and also homosexual, said, ``Like me, he suffered from numerous discriminations against him.'' Born in 1985, Kim made his debut as a fashion model last year and appeared in some soap operas this year.
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The second example comes from the UK where a 18 year old boy (pictured above right) likewise hanged himself as a result of incessant anonymous and abusive phone calls about his sexuality. As I do frequently, I have to wonder how people can be so vicious and cruel. Then I think of ignorance, intolerance, religious bigotry, and those who only feel good about themselves when destroying someone else. Here are highlights from the Manchester Evening News:
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A TEENAGER killed himself after a string of anonymous and abusive phone calls about his sexuality. The calls began after Lee Simpson revealed in a letter to his family and friends that he was gay.Months later the 18-year-old student was found hanged at home in Blackley.His father, John Simpson, 50, believes that the calls taunting Lee plagued him and he could no longer cope with the harassment.
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Lee was very open about his sexuality. It didn't bother me and it didn't bother anyone who knew him but it's not like that in the outside world.""It happened just before he died," said Mr Simpson. "I never expected him to do what he did but those calls definitely didn't help him. I think they pushed him over the edge.