By: David Urquhart

I am a 71 y o Australian gay man who was so so bullied and beaten at school that I tried to kill myself. As I've grown older and somewhat cynical I thought I had no more emotions left, until this week when the news of the recent suicides reached me. Now I am physically and emotionally distraught that homophobia is driving so many young people to such a deep level of despair that death seems the only way out of their recurring nightmare. I agree with the sentiment that Raymond is not number 'whatever'. He was a person; to his family, friends and associates he was a special person. He was one of us, a human being, just like you and me. Stop the fear. Stop the hate. Stop the homophobia.