Video Features Lily Tomlin, Judith Light, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Mae Whitman
[NEW YORK] – The Give a Damn Campaign, a project of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund, has released its latest video during National Suicide Prevention Month to shine a light on the higher risk of suicide for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. Lily Tomlin, Judith Light, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Mae Whitman speak out about this crisis in this month’s video, part of the campaign’s ongoing series of public service announcements.
Many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth struggle to come to terms with their sexual orientation or gender identity, while also seeking the acceptance of their family and friends. Unfortunately, too often they end up feeling so alone and rejected that ending their life seems like their only option to deal with what they are going through.
Suicide is already the third-leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24, and it turns out that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth are actually 4 times more likely to attempt it than their straight peers. More than 1 in 3 gay and transgender teens have attempted suicide.
“Rejection by one’s parents, one’s family and one’s community has to be one of the most painful and lonely experiences any person can be subjected to. So deep is the hurt that it causes these kids to think suicide is an option,” said Cyndi Lauper. “We can’t let this continue. We have to help our children and friends accept themselves. We have to make sure that they know that they are loved and that they are not alone.”
ABOUT THE GIVE A DAMN CAMPAIGN
The Give a Damn Campaign, a project of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund, is a bold, Web-based initiative with the goal of educating and engaging the straight community in the advancement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. The campaign produces call-to-action videos that have featured Cyndi Lauper, Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Mraz, Cynthia Nixon, Anna Paquin, Lily Tomlin, Sharon & Kelly Osbourne, Judith Light, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Piper Perabo, Mae Whitman, Kim Kardashian, Clay Aiken, Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho, Eric Roberts, and Kevin Alejandro.
ABOUT SPONSORS:
The Give a Damn Campaign has been made possible with the very generous support of lead sponsors Purple Crayons, designers of wegiveadamn.org and the Give a Damn logo, and Red Thread Productions, producers of the Give a Damn video series. Additional support has been provided by Eccentricity Design, Dietrich Nelson & Associates, Inc., Jeff Ertz, Keaton Simons, MAC Cosmetics, and Mayu Mishina.