I’m watching this interview with Jamey Rodemeyer’s parents, and Ann Curry asks them what advice they have for other parents of gay teenagers. I know this might sound insensitive, but why would you ask the parents of a gay suicide victim for child-rearing tips? If they had a magic solution to gay teen suicide, wouldn’t their son be alive? I’m not blaming them for his death, but why are we always asking the WRONG people for advice about gay teenage depression? When I look at videos of TV specials about this issue, I see interviews with Kelly Ripa, with Dr. Phil, with the author of the book that “Mean Girls” was based on. Why do we keep asking straight people for insight into queer experience?
The Rodemeyers’ answer to Curry’s question is to basically FORCE your child into talking with you and sharing their experiences. Great idea.
