Families across the nation are mourning the deaths of four teens who were bullied and harassed based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation.
First there was Asher Brown, just 13, from Texas. He shot himself. His parents said it was a response to anti-gay bullying at his school.
Then 15-year-old Billy Lucas of Indiana hanged himself after classmates said he was picked on for the way he talked and dressed.
Next, Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University student who jumped off a bridge after prosecutors said his roommate streamed video of him having sexual encounters with a man. Two Rutgers freshmen have been charged with invasion of privacy and more severe hate crime charges could follow.
"Privacy violations are just the tip of the iceberg," cyber crime expert, Parry Aftab, said. "We're looking into civil rights violations, wire tap federal and state, probably harassment and many other crimes."
And then there is Seth Walsh, a local teen who hanged himself following years of bullying at school.
"I would like to see more tolerance in the community for people who are different," Judy Walsh, Seth Walsh's grandmother, said.
Experts said anti-gay bullying is an epidemic in this country with three in five gay students reporting they feel unsafe at school.
"Parents should be looking for any changes in their kids that are somewhat remarkable," Michelle Huneckey, Kern Network for Children, said.
A gay and lesbian advocated group called the Trevor Project has launched a YouTube campaign to try and prevent suicides of youth experiencing the same type of bullying. The group wants to let youth know they are not alone.
