Editorial: Death draws speculation but eludes explanation

The tragic death of a student last week sent ripples through the
UCLA community as students and staff have struggled to cope with
the loss.

Amid the mourning, many have been drawn to speculate about
Amanda Hafleigh’s death and the complex nature of
suicide.

While posing these questions is normal, there are no easy
answers. No one will ever know exactly why Hafleigh died. The fact
she was a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community may or may not have been a significant factor.

But according to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, LGBT individuals are two to three times more likely
to kill themselves than their straight peers, and 30 percent of
completed youth suicides happen among LGBT youths.

These statistics do little to explain individual cases, and the
LGBT community is not the only group with a high risk for suicide.
But the facts do suggest LGBT people face stresses which put them
at risk ““ people are not yet treated equally in our society.
Whether because of outright homophobia or more subtle influences,
many LGBT people do not feel safe.

This disturbing reality must not be overlooked, and must be
addressed by society as a whole.