Tyler Clementi Foundation

The Tyler Clementi Foundation promotes safe and inclusive spaces for LGBT and vulnerable youth and families. We speak in schools, churches and workplaces about turning bystanders into Upstanders, parents coming out, and supporting youth before crisis.

Become an Upstander today. In the bullying scenario there are three roles that play out, the victim, the bully and the bystanders. In 70% of bullying situations there is a third party witness, or bystander, who tacitly condones the harassment of their peers by observing but not speaking up. We believe that bystanders have a responsibility to get involved and stand up for their peers. To learn how you can become an Upstander, take our Upstander pledge at our website: www.tylerclementi.org/pledge

Tyler Clementi was an exceptional young man who had many gifts and talents. After deciding that he wanted to learn to play the violin in the third grade, he grew to become a gifted musician, winning accolades and awards in high school, at the state level, and at the college in which he had enrolled only recently, Rutgers University. Tyler will be remembered as a kind, generous, and thoughtful young person.

Tyler was a young gay man, who ended his life on September 22, 2010 by jumping off the George Washington Bridge, three weeks after starting his freshman year at Rutgers University. Tyler had everything to live for but couldn't see it in the current environment he was in. Tyler was in a time of crisis and made the mistake of thinking there was only one way out. Although Tyler saw suicide as his only option, the truth is that this is the wrong choice. There is always another, better way. The Foundation in his name exists to make sure other LGBT youth seek help, find support and know that there is joy and promise in the future.

Tags: