I have been thinking about Tyler Clementi all day. I have been thinking about the events that led up to his death. I have been thinking about his last moments, his decision to kill himself, what he was thinking when he jumped.
I have been thinking about Dharun Rav and Molly Wei. I have been thinking about their mindset and what kind of upbringing they had that made them think this was an ok thing to do. I have been thinking about their callousness. I have been thinking about how they are feeling now, knowing that their actions led someone to jump off a bridge.
I have been thinking about what it must be like to live a life where you’re constantly at risk of being abused, be it emotionally or physically, for just being who you are. I’ve been thinking about people who are the abusers, people who don’t understand or refuse to understand that not everyone is the same.
I am now thinking about my daughter and how she joined the GSA her first week in high school. Her father asked her with complete disdain “Why would you want to join that club?” and she looked straight at him and said “Because of people like you.” I’m thinking that there should be some kind of club we could all join, not just kids but all of us or something we can do to let gay kids know we support them. So that the loudest voices speaking to them are not coming from those who are abusing them.
I have been thinking about Dharun Rav and Molly Wei and how it wasn’t just them that sent Tyler Clementi to his death. It was everyone who ever tormented someone for being gay. It was everyone who ever tormented someone for being different. It was every homophobe, every insult, every slur, every person who didn’t give someone a fair shake because they weren’t straight. I want people to read about this and see what harm their words and actions can cause. I want Dharun Rav and Molly Wei to live a life full of guilt that torments them forever.
I have been thinking ab out Tyler Clementi.
