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10 LGBT Teen Novels that Tackle Teen Suicide
& Bullying by Collin Kelley
In September, the suicide of 18-year-old Rutgers
University student Tyler Clementi was a tragic
close to a shocking month of gay teens taking their
own lives. Clementi's dormmate secretly recorded
the teen having sex with another man, sent out
messages on Twitter and broadcast it across the
Internet. Clementi jumped from the George
Washington Bridge.
Clementi's death also brought attention to three
other teen suicides-Seth Walsh, Asher Brown and
Billy Luca-that occurred in September; all had been
bullied over their sexuality. We'll never know
exactly how many LGBT teens have taken their lives
because of physical or cyber bullying.
So although the media glare has revealed that
bullying is an epidemic, LGBT novelists have long
tackled this issue in the pages of their books.
In my own novel, Conquering Venus ($14.95,
Vanilla Heart), the story is set in motion by the
suicide of a high school student, Peter, fearful
that family and friends will abandon him if they
discover he is gay. Peter’s boyfriend, Martin,
goes to Paris to try and move on with his life, but
meets another young man tormented by his sexuality
who seems to be heading down the same irrevocable
path.
Here are 10 books for teens and adults that
confront bullying and suicide in frank language and
tone, not to mention providing hope that “it
gets better.”
By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be
Dead by Julie Anne Peter
A bullied high school student trolls a suicide
“completers” website determined to get it
“right” after several botched attempts.
Then she meets a young man dying of cancer, who is
just as determined to make sure she lives. Peters
includes information about suicide prevention at
the end of the novel.
Bait by Alex Sanchez
Told from the prospective of the bully, Sanchez
charts the course of a 16 year old coming to terms
with his abusive past after he is arrested for
assaulting a gay teen.
Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford
A 15 year old tries to commit suicide and wakes up
in a juvenile psych ward, where he confront his
burgeoning sexuality with the help of three other
teens.
Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger
A transgendered high school student gets support
from his family while trying to defend himself from
bullies and act on his attraction to the hottest
girl in school.
Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole
A Cuban-American girl in a Catholic school is
expelled and abandoned by her mother after they
discover she is a lesbian.
A Scout is Brave by Greg Novak
A Native American is bullied at a Boy Scout summer
camp as he faces his own sexuality and the
traditions of his family.
The Side Door by Jan Donley
A teen gets bullied after coming out at her high
school and tries to uncover the secret behind the
suicide of another bullied teen, whose death has
been hushed up by the small town.
Freak Show by James St. James
Teenage drag queen Billy (or “gender
obscurist” as he calls himself) faced down
bullies as he seeks to become the homecoming queen
at his conservative high school.
Finlater by Shawn Stewart Ruff
A book for older teens and adults, this story of a
young African American teen and his Jewish
boyfriend in 1969 is sexually frank and shows that
bigotry and bullying roots are deep. (Reviewed for
LLF by Reginald Harris)
Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to
Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws by
Kate Bornstein
Okay, this isn’t a novel, but it’s
definitely a book for bullied teens that belongs on
any list. The celebrated transgender writer offers
up suggestions from the witty to the controversial,
but all with one simple message: “Don’t
be mean.”
©2010 by Joe Kort
Related: Issues,
Books
Psychotherapist
Joe Kort, MA, MSW, has been in practice since 1985.
He specializes in Gay Affirmative Psychotherapy as
well as IMAGO Relationship Therapy, which is a
specific program involving communication exercises
designed for couples to enhance their relationship
and for singles to learn relationship skills. He
also specializes in sexual addiction, childhood
sexual, physical and emotional abuse, depression
and anxiety. He offers workshops for couples and
singles. He runs a gay men's group therapy and a
men's sexuality group therapy for straight, bi and
gay men who are struggling with specific sexual
issues. His therapy services are for gays and
lesbians as well as heterosexuals. His articles and
columns have appeared in The Detroit Free
Press, Between the Lines Newspaper for
Gays and Lesbians, The Detroit News, The
Oakland Press, The Royal Oak Mirror, and
other publications. Besides providing therapy for
individuals and couples, he conducts a number of
groups and workshops for gay men. Now an adjunct
professor teaching Gay and Lesbian Studies at Wayne
State University's School of Social Work, he is
doing more writing and workshops on a national
level. He is the author of 10
Smart Things Gay Men can do to Improve Their
Lives.
www.joekort.com
or joekort@joekort.com
*
Gaydar
(gay'.dahr, n.): (1) The
ability that lets gays and lesbians identify one
other. (2) This column--where non-gay readers can
improve their gaydar, learning more about gay men's
psychology and social lives. Also, (3) a regular
feature where gay readers can discover the many
questions and hassles their straight
counterparts--and themselves--must face!
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