Standing up to bullies



Hillary Clinton at the U.N. Human Rights
Council in Geneva on Dec. 6, 2011

By F. Young

Here's a story by Kristen Wolfe:

"Yesterday I had a pair of brothers in my store. One was maybe between 15 and 17. He was a wrestler at the local high school. Kind of tall, stocky and handsome.

He had a younger brother, who was maybe about 10 to 12 years old. The only way to describe him was scrawny, neat, and very clean for a boy his age.

They were talking about finding a game for the younger one, and he was absolutely insisting it be one with a female character."

Read the rest of this moving story at HuffPost.

Wolfe's story of two brothers and their dad gives me hope that, just maybe, the messages about the importance of bystanders speaking out against bullying are finally getting through. But it is still so rare.

I consider the way that many countries treat LGBTI's as bullying. So, Wolfe's heartwarming story reminds me of Hillary Clinton's speech at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on Dec. 6, 2011:

"And finally, to LGBT men and women worldwide, let me say this: Wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to a network of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone. People around the globe are working hard to support you and to bring an end to the injustices and dangers you face. That is certainly true for my country. And you have an ally in the United States of America and you have millions of friends among the* American people."

Inspiring words. Even if it turns out that the USA delivers only a fraction of this, it's a huge help, and so rare (though not unprecedented) and desperately needed.

Related articles:

• Obama admin to 'leverage' foreign aid for LGBT Rights
• Global LGBT activists react to Clinton speech
• What preceded Hillary Clinton's UN speech?