Homophobia and the Gay Suicide Rate

In the context of the rising crescendo of anti-gay venom in parts of this country, The Irish Times did a recent story that focused on the link between this kind of rank homophobia and the suicide rate among gays. As the article notes, a strong link between suicide and homosexuality is unsurprising in a [Irish] society that decriminalised homosexuality only 15 years ago (here in Virginia, decriminalization did not occur until 2003 with the Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court decision). Adding to the problem is the fact that in addition to generalized society homophobia one must add to the mix the fact that gays are often physically brutalized and/or not afforded unbiased treatment under the law or in the courts even when - as in Virginia - the judges are allegedly required to not allow homophobia to influence their decisions (in my own divorce case, I was basically tried and punished for being gay - so much for an unbiased judge - and the nightmare experience did push me to a nearly successful overdose attempt. Did the judge care? I doubt it). Here are some highlights from the Irish Times article:

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OPINION: It is disturbing but not surprising that almost one-fifth of gay people have attempted suicide, writes QUENTIN FOTTRELL . IT WAS a headline that only people outside the gay community might possibly view as news. “A fifth of gay people tried suicide – report.”

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Surprise, surprise. Well, really. What does one expect in a society that only decriminalised homosexuality 15 years ago, one where bullying of gay students in schools is only now limping on to the political agenda, and where children as young as seven have been taught that the word “gay” is a particularly effective term of abuse?

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That said, this recent study was both valuable and timely. Supporting LGBT Lives: A Study of the Mental Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People found that almost 18 per cent of LGBT people have attempted suicide. Another 27 per cent of those surveyed said they had self-harmed at least once.

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Few people think of themselves as homophobic. But we can start by asking what we all can do to help? Parents can tell their children early: “Gay or straight, I love you. As long as you are happy, I am happy.” We can take notice if a brother, sister, friend or child is isolating themselves, which could be just one of many signs.

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Alan Doherty grew up in Buncrana, Co Donegal, and came from a large, loving family. Please remember his name. Alan had moved home after six years in London. On November 8th, 2005, at the age of 32, he took his own life. He left a note in which he specifically said he could no longer cope with the homophobia in his home town.

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Homophobia chips away at beautiful spirits.” Supporting LGBT Lives has the evidence: 80 per cent of online respondents were verbally abused for their identity, 58 per cent were bullied in school, while 85 per cent of those who self-harmed once had done so again, a big risk factor in suicide. Plus, of those 25 and under, more than one-third thought about ending their life in the past year.

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What I personally find so distressing is the fact that I suspect those behind ads like the one released in West Virginia and the ones in the Salt Lake Tribune and Desert News would actually be happy if all gays killed themselves. In their minds, I suspect we are not even viewed as human. And behind it all, self-proclaimed God-fearing people. It is truly a sick situation.