Affirmation's Youth Services director sent her firm support and thank you to the President following his address to the nation where he urged the Congress to pass hate crimes legislation and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

She invites all of us to join her in thanking him at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Mail/html/Mail_President.html

Here is the content of her message:

I congratulate you on your bold and firm commitment to the support of the hate crimes bill. As the director of youth services for Affirmation, a service and fellowship organization for Gay and Lesbian Mormons, I deal each week with young people all across our country who seek out support and assistance.

Gay/Lesbian/Bixsexual and Questioning youth are typically an invisible and suffering sub-population in our society due to our society's prejudicial views on gender orientation. Youth who are raised in conservative religious communities are especially hard to reach because of the views their faith holds on same sex orientation. These youth are especially isolated and often come to the conclusion that their situation is hopeless in this lifetime. Many have no one to turn to, feel isolated and rejected by friends, family and their religious community. Many cometo believe that their only option is suicide. Others seek relief from their pain and misery in other self-destructive behaviors such as substance and drug abuse, seek out often unhealthy environments, or engage in other self inflicted abusive behaviors. They struggle in silence.

Because of their invisibility, these youth are difficult to identify and to reach in order to provide the much needed love, mentoring, and support by caring adults.

Furthermore, the paranoia that prevails around outreach efforts to g/l/b/q youth in our wider society, PARALYZES the support that youth need. Youth desperately need mentoring and support from adult role models who are non-judgmental, supportive, and who care. It is quite common for these young people to be subjected to hateful and hurtful treatment in their homes, schools, and communities, often in the very places where many of us find safe haven and safety. Mr. President, many many of these children have no safe places, period.

Because we still live in a homophobic society, this support for G/L/B/Q youth must come about in safe and creative ways without fear of anyone being subjected to persecution, exploitation, or rejection. Affirmation recognizes the need for caring adults to provide love and support, positive role models and mentoring to g/l/b/q youth who are struggling. These youth need to know that they are not alone and their situation is not hopeless. They need to be affirmed in order that they can lead healthy and productive lives.

Besides being a human rights issue, this is a public health crisis. Medical and public health professionals across the country are joining arms to stop the intra-personal and inter-personal violence being brought against g/l/b/t youth by others and among themselves.

Mr. President, it is initiatives like the Federal Hate Crimes bill that will ultimately bring about the cessation of violent acts that are being brought on our young people, often in the name of God and religion. I applaud you for your efforts, as a Christian and as a public health professional.

Respectfully submitted,

Allison Bingham, Ph.D.
Director, Youth Services
Affirmation, a support and fellowship for Gay and Lesbian persons of Mormon Heritage

Research Associate
Connecticut Children's Medical Center