• 30% of all LGBT teens attempt to commit suicide
  • Hard to show who you are in front of parents
  • Generation gap with parents and grandparents
  • Emily from Kennybunk: proves that sharing stories matters, changes people’s thoughts
  • Safe Space Radio: not seeing their face makes it easier for people to share their stories
  • People think it is contagious to make someone gay (Samantha’s story)
  • Worrying about safety all the time
  • Minority stress is associated with smoking rates, substance abuse, and mental health
  • Aiden’s story: interesting to get the inside scoop of transforming into a boy
  • “Need to be who I am or I can’t exist”
  • What can we do? (prevent suicide)
    • GSTA at schools: provides a comfortable spot
    • Adopting anti discrimination supporting LGBTQ
    • Benefits straight boys
    • Bullying can occur accusing boys to be gay for caring too much

 

This podcast was really interesting to me as I have been around those who are LGBT. It states that 30% of LGBT teenagers attempt to commit suicide. I feel that the fact that it was audio made it a lot easier for the speakers. Most bullying comes from looks. It could be that some “looks” gay or transgender. I feel that the part that Safe Space Radio makes it easier for people to share their stories because their face is not shown to their audience. A very effective part of the podcast is where they talk about what schools can do to prevent suicide in general. They say that making GSTA clubs at schools to provide those with a comfortable place to talk and to adopting anti discrimination rules surrounding LGBTQ individuals. It is ironic because it decreases suicides of straight boys because bullying can occur  accusing boys to be gay for caring too much. It compares to the visual story with Martha Hall where she talks about how she feels when going through treatment. Similarly to those who are LGBT, Martha feels in the dark and alone and that she has noone to lean on.