Sad Tragic News: Black Gay Teen Raymond Chase Commited Suicide.
Raymond Chase, 19 Year Old Gay Male Is 5th Suicide In Last 3 Weeks
19 Year old Raymond Chase Commits Suicide
What’s with all the young gay males committing suicide in the last few weeks? Is it that support systems at colleges in America are breaking down or is it all just a coincidence? It is being reported that Wednesday, September 29th, 19 year old Raymond Chase committed suicide via a hanging in his dorm room. The Sophomore at Johnson & Wales seemed happy, but clearly there was more going on inside than he showed outside.
Yesterday, the Vice President of Johnson & Wales, Ronald Martel emailed all students the following message, “Today I contact you with the deeply sad news of the passing of Raymond Chase, sophomore, 19, culinary arts major. The campus community is mourning the loss of this vibrant young man who leaves many JWU friends and teachers, and a loving family of Monticello, New York. Funeral arrangements are not available at this time. As we obtain more information that can be shared, we will do so. Ray’s JWU friends and the university are planning a memorial service for the campus community. Those details will be forthcoming”.
Johnson & Wales University is fairly large with over 16,000 enrolled students. it is located in Providence Rhode Island, and was founded in 1914 as a business school. Today the university has programs for business, culinary, equine management, hospitality, education, and technology.
Does something need to be done in America to set up support groups for not only young homosexual men, but for those youngsters looking for people to talk to, someone to air their daily frustrations about life to? Our hearts go out to the family of Raymond Chase, as well as the other 4 young men who took their own lives in the month of September.
Gayblackcanada 
So sad. I am tired of hearing straight people say that these young people who are turning to suicide are weak-minded or lacking fortitude or self-worth. The truth is that churches, schools, and parents have gone to such great lengths to build up a sense of shame around being gay, that it is quite easy to see how a young person with limited life experience would want to find the most efficient way out of this hell they are living. I personally believe it is acceptance by one’s own family/parents that makes or breaks a gay person’s spirit. Most parents like to boast that they love their children unconditionally. If these closeted gay kids really believed that, they wouldn’t be hanging themselves in their dorms.
I agree Anton heterosexism is so entrenched in North America that it is sad but not surprising gay youth committed suicide.
The colleges and universities are NOT open spaces for gay youth. Gay youth require assistance to gain positive self esteem. Where was the social structures for this child? Why didn’t anyone see that he required assistance?
The sheer brutality of the hompohobia and anti gay prejudice pushes some gay youth to end their lives than to live in this homophobic anti gay world.