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Tyler Clementi was an accomplished musician who primarily played the violin. In 2010, he enrolled at Rutgers University and was one of two freshmen who made it into their graduate school orchestra. He was also a gay man who was beginning to embrace his sexuality. Others weren’t as accepting. One day, his dorm mate recorded him in an intimate act without his consent and posted the clip online. Clementi was humiliated as he endured intense cyberbullying from his new classmates, until he felt that there was only one way to escape the harassment. On September 22, 2010, Clementi took his own life.
Clementi’s is far from the only LGBTQ+ story that ends in suicide. In a study conducted by Rutgers University, researchers found that over one in five queer-spectrum students (22 percent) and one in four trans-spectrum students (25 percent) report that they had seriously considered suicide during the previous 12 months. The same study found that LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to lack a support system. Having a community to turn to and relate to would provide some relief for those students.
OutLoud at Ohio State Mansfield provides that necessary community of LGBTQ+ students and faculty as well as allies. Through events OutLoud hosts, such as Drag Brunch and trips to Pride, LGBTQ+ students gain the sense of acceptance and community that they need. Help us retain the accepting community that OutLoud has built by donating so we can continue taking part in these exciting events.
LGBTQ+ youth are 8.4 times more likely to attempt suicide if they have families who reject them.
27% of LGBTQ+ students reported physical harassment due to their sexual orientation.
40% of transgender adults reported attempting suicide at some point in their lives.
80% of the employed transgender population has reported workplace harassment.
