Gay Bullying and Suicides Hit Black Community

Summary

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The rally, led by the organization Fabulous Independent Educated Radicals for Community Empowerment (FIERCE), declared October as LGBT Youth Empowerment Month and also addressed the need for a 24-hour LGBT youth center in the West Village.

"We are thrilled to have the mayor and Speaker Quinn and other elected officials' support of LGBT Youth Empowerment Month," said John Blasco, organizer of FIERCE. "It is crucial that we continue working together to create even more spaces for LGBT youth to take leadership in the communities and in the fight for justice."

"We chose empowerment because to us, empowerment means being seen, heard and having the power to make the changes we need immediately," said FIERCE member Veronica Tirado. "We need policy changes that ensure safe spaces in our schools and jobs."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, openly gay City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and gay City Councilman Daniel Dromm support the themed month.

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Extract

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Gay Bullying and Suicides Hit Black Community

Recent anti-gay attacks and suicides among gay youth have ignited a conversation about a problem that those in the LGBT community say is nothing new.

As the case of what many are ca...

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