Crowds show respect for youth suicide victims at candlelight vigil

As the sun set over Dunn Meadow Monday, the dim lampposts lighting the darkening field were assisted by more than 100 tiny, flickering candle flames.

The candles were held by students, faculty and Bloomington residents — all gathered for a vigil remembering those who have been pushed to suicide because of harassment.

A wave of teen suicides in recent weeks, many the result of anti-gay bullying, led Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality, or SAGE, to organize the gathering.

Standing behind a row of candles, SAGE Vice President senior Jain Waldrip thanked the crowd for coming and urged them to keep supporting each other.

“Every one of you, in standing with us tonight, holds a light against a darkness,” Waldrip said. “A darkness that threatens young lives and which has already claimed several.”

Waldrip, who said she has struggled with suicidal thoughts herself, also had a message for those who might be thinking of taking their own lives.

“It will get the easier for you,” she said. “Every day that you face adversity, you get a little stronger against it. You learn to resist it a little better. Every day you face adversity, you find better ways to heal.”

Following her speech, Waldrip asked for a moment of silence.

After the silence, Doug Bauder, coordinator of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Support Services, spoke briefly, followed by senior Erika Sutton, a member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

“We recognize the detrimental impact that mainstream Christians have had on creating a culture of fear for the GLBT community in the United States,” Sutton said. “If Christians continue to remain silent on the issue of these suicides, we are endorsing hatred and fear.”

SAGE President junior Rick Stark concluded the vigil, asking that those in attendance make it clear that harassment of any kind — whether it is based on race, religion, sexual preference or anything else — is not acceptable.

“We began tonight with a moment of silence to remember and honor those we’ve lost,” Stark said. “But now the time for silence must end. We must demand that everyone is protected from this darkness, demand that no one is subjected to isolation and demand the end of hate.”

Stark then held up his candle.

“With enough love, hate will end,” he said. “Tonight as we extinguish our candles, the light doesn’t die.”

Stark blew out his flame, and the crowd did the same — returning Dunn Meadow to the dim light of its lampposts.

As the crowd slowly dissipated, many of the students stayed behind, talking to each other in small groups.

Dean of Students Pete Goldsmith and Assistant Dean of Students Carol McCord, who both attended the vigil, stood together on the sidewalk, observing the crowd.

“It’s important to show support and that the campus is a civil environment,” Goldsmith said. “People see each other here, people like them and even people not like them, and it helps.”

 A few yards away, Waldrip, Stark and other SAGE members pulled each other into a quick group hug.

“I hope that tonight helps someone,” Waldrip said. “That it makes life more bearable for somebody. Anybody.”