DID BIAS PLAY A ROLE IN THE SUICIDE ATTEMPT OF A COLLEGE FRESHMAN?

On the evening of September 19, Rutgers student Dharun Ravi is believed to have sent a message by Twitter about his roomate, Clementi via CNN.

"Roomate asked for the room till midnight. I went into molly's room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay."

"Anyone with iChat, I dare you to video chat me between the hours of 9:30 and 12. Yes it's happening again," Ravi is believed to have tweeted.

The next day Clementi was dead.

Authorities said the 18-year-old-freshman commited suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. A mobile status update September 22 on a Facebbok page purportedly belonging to Clementi said: "jumping off the gw bridge sorry."

I think bias played a huge role in this traumatic incident. Ravi, who was responsibile for invasion of privacy obviously used the method of intimidation by videotaping his roomate having sex. Since being gay isn't fully accepted in society, homosexuality is a social problem. Now is harder than ever to be a teenager and openly out about being gay because of the huge backlash from peers. The victim obviously didn't want anyone to know that he was gay but unfortunately, we live in a cruel society. His roomate must have had a personal vendetta against gays to leave a webcam hidden in a room to videotape sexual encounters of his roomate and the other young man. The fact that it was two guys involved in the sextape is what really makes this story stand out and pecuilar that Ravi would be so enticed with this matter that he would put it on the internet. The sad truth is there are many students who are gay but are afraid of "coming out" because of their reputation or the torment and ridicule that will occur.

Hopefully more gay rights and support groups protest and become active in not only fighting for gay rights but helping these individuals who  cannot be themselves because of their sexual orientation. I think Bias charges should be brought against the two Rutger University students accused of invading the privacy of fellow student, Tyler Clementi.