Funnywoman Sarah Silverman says the
problem of gay teen suicide is a symptom of anti-gay laws,
specifically “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the policy that bans gay
troops from serving openly, and laws that prohibit gay and lesbian
couples from marrying.
The 39-year-old star of Comedy
Central's The Sarah Silverman Program appears
uncharacteristically serious in the 30-second video she posted on
Perez Hilton's YouTube account.
Referring to the recent rash of gay
teen suicides – 4 in September alone – Silverman said America
should stop acting surprised. (The video is embedded in the right
panel of this page.)
“When you tell gay Americans that
they can't serve their country openly or marry the person that they
love, you're telling that to kids, too.”
“So don't be f**king shocked and
wonder where all these bullies are coming from that are torturing
young kids and driving them to kill themselves.”
“They learned it from watching you,”
she adds.
Other celebrities, including
chat show host Ellen DeGeneres, How I Met Your Mother star
Neil Patrick Harris and former 'NSYNCer Lance Bass, have also
spoken out on the issue. All three are openly gay.