Tragedy.

The news has been full of LGBTQ teenagers taking their lives lately. There are no words to express what a horrific tragedy this is. As a graduate of and now a teacher in public schools, I know how horrible kids can be to each other; what they consider light-hearted teasing can sometimes be downright cruel. But the fact that these kids were bullied enough that they felt that there was no one to turn to and nowhere to go is heartbreaking.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with these problems or these feelings, know that there are people who want to help. The Trevor Project is a wonderful organization that is seeking to help any LGBTQ youth in crisis, and they have a 24 hour phone counselor.

You are loved. There are better times ahead. And I want you to be there to share it with me.

And to the parents out there -- when you tell gay Americans that they can't serve their country openly, or marry the person that they love, you're telling that to kids, too. So don't be shocked and wonder where all these bullies are coming from that are torturing young kids, and driving them to kill themselves because they're different. They learned it from watching you. The hate stops with you.