I have never commented here before, but I just had to after reading Deep Voice's compelling comment about this issue.

Just thinking about it, I come here almost everyday just for the pleasures of men, but I had to stop and think that it's so great, yet so unfortunate that we have assimilated much better in the current society we live in today than 30-40 years ago, even though I was never born at that time. It's sad to see that people feel scared if they were persecuted being gay, but I can understand how it feels being trapped in the small society you might have lived in, denouncing gays when you had your first boy crush at elementary school.

I've been thinking all morning about what I might say pertaining to Tyler and the other, recent, tragic deaths of misunderstood youth. Bullies have been the bane of queers since the beginning of time. I should know, because today in particular, I feel like I was there when God said, "Let there be Light!" Getting older isn't for sissies.

I tried to end it all when I was fourteen with a bottle of sleeping pills because back then I honestly thought I was the only homo on earth. We didn't have any role models one could look up to and our lives seemed to be sealed by a twist of fate. Thing have improved mightily since Oprah and Sally Jessie Raphael, believe me.

Tyler was put into a particularly embarrassing, cruel and insulting situation and I wonder what is being done to punish those who are directly to blame for his death. Yet, after all these years I'm finally wise enough to know that "Society" is at fault. And I also know that WE are part of that society where it's far easier to maintain the statis quo.

It seems like a coicidence that last night on "Project Runway," Mondo confessed to the world his most guarded secret; he has been HIV+ for 10 years. I've been HIV+ for twenty, and luckily Mondo won't have to go through the AZT dry heaves, the blood clots, cerebral hemorrhages nor the neuropathy of earlier victims who have survived. And that's just one more stigma among the pile of dung anyway.

I've had my days in the sun. I've had enough brushes with glory to keep me content, but one can't stop one's soul from growing along with the crows' feet. If we all came out of the closet and slammed the doors behind us it could rattle the nation and cause such a gust of wind it might throw the bullies out of office. That would be a start.

"I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" You score five imaginary points if you can guess that movie. Queens can be so silly sometimes. I've been there and seem them! Many were my best friends.

As for Tyler and the other abandoned lives, I can only mourn their passing with an awesome wonder and regret. Yet, I rejoice that WE, each and every one of us, have survived to pay them homage.

This just breaks my heart - for the potential we will never know, and for his family. It wasn't that many years ago that a picture of someone in a compromising situation required a Polaroid and hard copies. Now, it can be around the world in seconds. Kids have to think about the medium they are using and the potential to destroy a young life in minutes. Gos, this makes me sad.

Thank you very much for posting this today Matt. Life does sometimes suck but it does get better. What Tyler forgot was that we are never really alone. I wonder if he had waited just one more day and thought about it if he would really have jumped?

Thank you for posting the info on Tyler. Although from what I've read I don't think it was a gay bashing thing, rather more a college prank [this is not the first time college guys posted hidden camera videos], I DO believe he reacted this way because he would be persecuted severely for being gay. And that is surely reason enough to be in an outrage about this. Coupled with the other suicides it is time we all speak up!