13-Year-Old Throws Concert to Benefit LGBT Suicide Prevention

In the San Francisco Bay Area, 13-year-old Noah Hornik is combining his love for indie music with a passion for equality.

Noah has heard many stories about teens in the Bay Area commiting suicide after facing anti-gay bullying. He also witnessed hate speech on the Internet against students his own age, as well as seeing his home state of California pass Prop. 8, which overturned same-sex marriage rights.

With so much hate around him, Noah decided to take steps to raise awareness. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, he explains, “Between the suicides, (anti-same-sex marriage) Prop. 8 and what I was seeing online, I realized we needed to take this further…These kids are my age.”

Noah is planning a benefit concert to support LGBT youth suicide prevention (see his video here). The concert is called “It Gets Indie,” and it features music from Rabbit! and the Handshakes (Noah is an indie music enthusiast — he writes the blog Indie Rock Kid and he also has a Myspace page dedicated to indie music with over 87,000 followers.)

Noah is right to be concerned with suicide among LGBT teens. As reported by The Trevor Project, LGBT youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight colleagues. More than 1/3 of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth have attempted suicide.

Although he does not identify as gay, Noah has dedicated himself to the fight for LGBT rights. He founded his middle school’s gay-straight alliance, the Rainbow Connection, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The proceeds from Noah’s concert will go to The Trevor Project and the It Gets Better Project. Both organizations support LGBT youth and advocate for safe spaces for youth to express themselves.

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For those of us in the area, here is the info for the concert:

It Gets Indie: 7 p.m. April 24. Great American Music Hall, 859 O’Farrell St., S.F. $25. (415) 885-0750. www.gamh.com/tickets.

Another LGBT Suicide — Are We Doing Enough?

Survey Links Religious Condemnation to LGBT Youth Suicides

Photo courtesy of incurable_hippie via flickr

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Mark Alan D.

11:30PM PDT on Oct 19, 2011

FYI - Thursday, October 20, 2011 is International SPIRIT DAY - one of the minor holidays on the LGBT Calendar. It is asked that you wear a PURPLE SHIRT as a sign of LGBT support, and in memory of the LGBT Teens who have died because of their orientation.

send a green star

Don G.

4:49AM PDT on Apr 10, 2011

I wish I had your inspiration and fighting spirit. I'm eighteen but I haven't done anything as great as you have. Well done.

Allan Y.

11:28AM PDT on Apr 9, 2011

You are what America was founded on. Freedom to be .....

Norma V.

7:29AM PDT on Apr 9, 2011

Powerful young man!

Lika S.

2:48AM PDT on Apr 6, 2011

Awesome, Noah! Keep up the good work.

Martha E.

7:40PM PDT on Apr 4, 2011

Very proud of Noah. To speak out, at his age, is a courageous act, and shows a lot of thought and care, as well as strength.

Heather G.

11:34AM PDT on Apr 4, 2011

It's nice to hear a story of someone doing good - and such a young person!

Rae Z.

11:07AM PDT on Apr 4, 2011

Way to go! We need more people like you.

wooddragon x.

10:34AM PDT on Apr 4, 2011

What a wise 'old' 13 year old! I hope a lot of people will learn by his example. Good Luck Noah... Peace and Blessings in all you do.

Christopher C.

2:59AM PDT on Apr 4, 2011

Bravo Noah! There is a lot of wisdom & love in that 13-year old head and heart Noah! I sure wish I had more Noah's in my court when I was growing up in school and had to face daily bullying. Keep up the good work Noah!