My Open Letter to Everyone

Open Letter to Everyone:

The deaths of Tyler Clementi, 18, Asher Brown, 13, Seth Walsh, 13 and Billy Lucas, 15 weighed heavily on my heart this morning. I could not stop thinking about these four LGBT teenage boys who committed suicide after continuously bullying in their communities. Often, these kids are having a tough time fitting in even their own families. These LGBT teens are the target of anti-gay slurs, harassment and bullying for years. They often deal with alone. They have no one or few people to lean on. Your teenage years are hard enough without adding being gay in the mix. I went through these same emotions. I had suicidal thoughts. I thought the world would be better without me.

High school was hell emotionally. I played the tough role. I was not out and proud. It wasn’t like you couldn’t guess. I was the stereotypical tomboy girl. I played basketball. I wore baggy clothes. Boys were my friends not my boyfriends. I tried to be invisible sometimes. It was easier to not talk about it. My senior year a classmate called me to ask if I was gay. I told her I didn’t know. The next day my worst nightmare came true as the whispers began. There were many days that I went home and cried because I couldn’t be myself. The inner turmoil created some of the most poignant poems I’ve ever written

Yes, I am a proud lesbian. I am who I am without reservations. I am loved and respected for being me. When I learned to accept me as I am, I met the friends who accepted and loved just the way I was. It took time. I gave myself time to get comfortable with me. It was a long time coming and at 34 I still have those days when I am not. We all do.

After reading about these LGBT suicides I know I have to do something. I’ve never been the LGBT/rainbow card carrier, but I need to step up for these kids who haven’t reached their own comfort level. Everyone needs to get involved, gay, straight and everyone in between. This is a chance for us to show our kids that we are there for them.

That is why NERD, Inc will create a program LGBT: Let’s Get Better Together for tolerance and mentoring for the youth starting in New Orleans. I want to do what I can for these kids. I don’t want the lives (and deaths) of Tyler Clementi, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh and Billy Lucas to be in vain. Let’s Get Better Together will show these kids that the world needs their talents and humanity.

NERD, Inc is here to show that “Outcasts are the New ‘In’ Crowd.

With love,

Anisa TheNerd Parks