Sarah Silverman Addresses Gay Teen Suicides, Blames DADT And Gay Marriage Bans (VIDEO)

At least five teenage boys have committed suicide in recent weeks after being bullied because they were gay.

Comedian Sarah Silverman struck a serious note when she posted the following video on Perez Hilton's YouTube account, pointing the finger squarely at America's social policies that tell gay people that they cannot serve their country openly (Don't Ask, Don't Tell) or marry the person that they love.

"You're telling that to kids, too," said Silverman in the short but strongly worded message, adding that the bullies "learned it from watching you."

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS PROFANITY/NSFW LANGUAGE.

WATCH:

Comments

[Howard Steven Friedman]

05:16 PM on 10/14/2010

Per my post from a few weeks ago, President Obama is merely doing his best to pretend to be powerless. He could have eliminated DADT with the stroke of a pen (just as Truman did to desegregate the military). Waiting for assessments of impact or Congressional approval is nothing more than a lack of leadership and conviction.

My article is here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-steven-friedman/obamas-dont-blame-me-poli_b_735457.html

[cwebster]

07:07 PM on 10/11/2010

Finally! Someone addressing the actual root of the problem. Too bad she isn't a politician.

[Oilygarch]

01:26 PM on 10/11/2010

It might not be that meanness and bullying is only modeled at the top but that the top is a reflection of the bottom as much as the bottom is a reflection of the top. Like a meta-model from macro to micro to macro, repeating fractals of the same behaviour from that of individuals to small groups to societies.

It seems a natural proclivity in animals to reject those who are different, perhaps seeing those who are different as a threat. As human beings one would think that we can see beyond our differences. Maybe animal instinct is too ingrained in some circumstances.

[Rickfors]

12:07 AM on 10/10/2010

School uniforms
School uniforms
School uniforms

[William D Simpson]

10:17 PM on 10/09/2010

Not telling America's youth the truth, is the cause for so much pain...

http://wsimpson.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/who-is-the-real-bully/

[mercury613]

02:52 PM on 10/10/2010

We all see through your lies.

[Beth Wallis]

06:43 PM on 10/11/2010

He spelled "abomination" wrong.

Also, there's an ad on the bottom of the site to "earn" a theology degree online.

Reputable.

[rounder421]

08:53 PM on 10/11/2010

And then there is the fact that your argument is based on a mystery man in the clouds who hasn't spoken clearly to 'his' people in 2000 years. Just because you believe something does not make it true for the rest of us. Nor should it have any impact on other people who don't share your archaic beliefs. You want smaller government? Fine. Keep your religion out the government, and out of our lives. How come you cherry pick the anti-homosexual verses out of the bible, but I don't see you shouting about re-legalizing slavery? Or how about capital punishment for a smart mouthing kid?

Versus in the bible condemning homosexuality 6
Verses in the bible about social justice and the poor 300
Number of people killed by God for all kinds of reasons 30 million.
(The feeling I'll have when the 1st amendment is finally realized- priceless)

You can have your god and pray to him all you want, I don't think that kind of deity really belongs in a discussion on how to treat a human being. Especially a human being willing to fight and die for your rights to spit hate at them.

"our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine; nor is it given to us in this life to know whether yours or mine, our friend's or our foe's, are exactly the right." Thomas Jefferson..

[rszp]

09:17 AM on 10/07/2010

Sarah Silverman is telling people how to treat others. This is the same person who sings "Amazing Grace" between her legs. She is part of the problem. She teaches hate with her shows. What does she think that Christians kids think of her putting a dress on Jesus on the cross means? Double standard! She makes a living bullying people.

[Ioan Lightoller]

08:48 PM on 10/07/2010

Oh, it's bullying when someone tells people to treat others as Jesus would want, is it? This is why so many GLBT people have left religion, many of them for spirituality (and there is a world of difference between the two).

[leftcoastliberal]

11:56 PM on 10/11/2010

Your reasoning is a little off. She asked America to let gays serve their country and get married, has she ever suggested that Christians not be allowed to serve their country or get married? Uh... no. That's OK, I'm sure you'll think of some other reason to pervert the words of the gospel to justify hate and bigotry instead of love and tolerance.

[RocheTm]

09:26 PM on 10/06/2010

I posted a comment on another article about this. I felt smart having come to the conclusion DADT and gay marriage bans where to blame. Sadly Silverman beat me to it. At least she can reach a larger audience.

[emmanuel goldstein]

11:49 PM on 10/06/2010

I also posted these sentiments a few days back. Others have as well I'm sure. It's fairly obvious if you take am minute to think about it.

[thereisonlyoneparty]

09:23 PM on 10/06/2010

Yech.

Children mock other children.  It has nothing to do with military policy or laws regarding enunioning.  It is just what children do.  To avoid being the target of mockery children need to mock someone else who is different.

People need to stop looking for excuses and reasons for deficiencies in human nature.  Like adults some children are just dicks.

But keep looking for the easy way out, kids.  It is much easier and gets much bigger headlines.

[WakeUpCallAmerica]

10:04 PM on 10/06/2010

Let me lay this out for you. Getting made fun of because you are fat, or short, or black, or white, or whatever makes you "different"...this is difficult for any child. However, ADD to that the shame you feel for being gay (Note: gay people are also fat, short, black, and white)...shame that is consistently underscored by the conservative moment in this country and passed from its leaders, to the communities, to the parents, to the children. Period. Then ADD to that things like the fear of being thrown out of your home if your parents find out, or what's worse, being thrown out; Being rejected by your peers and subjected to even MORE harassment; The inability to seek comfort in your own faith because its leaders have rejected you and are insisting that you are CHOOSING this. So let's add this up: Loss of self worth, fear of possible--and too often actual--loss of family relationships, friendships, home, and faith. How is any child supposed to handle all of that?? The self hatred issues are debilitating enough alone. This is the issue here. Wake the hell up.

[Ioan Lightoller]

08:50 PM on 10/07/2010

Fanned and faved. However, bigots will always find ways to excuse bullying, especially the bullying of GLBT youth. However, thanks for posting eloquently.

[Oilygarch]

01:19 PM on 10/11/2010

Let's face it, to be conservative is to fit a mold.

Speaking of which, there are many Bi people who are discriminated against by Gays because they don't fit the Gay mold. I guess being Bi is too liberal for the conservative Gay mold.

[WakeUpCallAmerica]

04:50 AM on 10/06/2010

Very much agreed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx8SsFESyus

[Fiona Taylor]

11:22 PM on 10/05/2010

She always kind of bugged me (granted, I haven't watched that much of her, and might feel totally different if I had, plus "I'm Fing Matt Damon was HYSTERICAL) but I will love her forever now. Such a good point.

[pipetoe]

10:19 PM on 10/05/2010

They are learning it from a mean pop culture...Mean reality shows and a mean media that picks on people constantly....
Bullying is nothing really all that new; but this media stuff is. It is much more severe when a kid has to cope with being ridiculed by an entire community over the internet.

[Jdaddy1951]

09:19 PM on 10/05/2010

Every word was perfectly chosen and spot on, including the f-bomb! I don't usually care for Sarah Silverman, but she nailed it here.

[tene]

08:53 PM on 10/05/2010

She is so right. i never even thought of it like that.

[wl]

07:58 PM on 10/05/2010

You are awesome.

[filterpros]

06:36 PM on 10/05/2010

Way too much hate. How tragic the loss. The bullies should worry about their own business and leave everyone else alone.

www.mysisterdalesgarden.com