Raymond Chase, Gay Student, Commits Suicide Like Tyler Clementi

by Amy Judd | October 1, 2010 at 07:22 am

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Raymond Chase, 19-Year-Old Sophomore From Johnson and Wales University, Has Also Committed Suicide

In what is now the fifth suicide in just a few weeks of a gay man, 19-year-old Raymond Chase has also taken his own life by reportedly hanging himself in his dormitory.

Details around the incident are scarce and unlike the Tyler Clementi story, it is not known at this time what the circumstances were leading up to Raymond Chase's death.

The Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Ronald Martel, Ph.D, sent an e-mail on Thursday to students about Chase's death.

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.

Mr. Martel goes on to say that no funeral arrangements have been announced at this time, but a memorial service is being planned on the campus soon.

He urged anyone who is having a difficult time with Chase's death, to seek counseling from a professional on the campus.

Campus Pride has now demanded national action to address LGBT youth bullying, harassment and suicide.

According to a release posted on the Miami Herald website:

Campus Pride, the nation’s leading non-profit organization working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally college and university students, offers its condolences and support to the family of Raymond Chase who reportedly hung himself in his residence hall room this past Wednesday, September 29, 2010 on the campus of Johnson & Wales in Providence, RI.

“The loss of Raymond this week is the second college LGBT-related suicide in a week and the fifth teenage LGBT suicide in three weeks. The suicide of this openly gay young man is for reasons currently unknown; however, the recent pattern of LGBT youth suicides is cause for grave concern,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director and founder of Campus Pride.

They want more people to stand up and take notice of what is happening, and for national action to be taken to prevent more young people feeling as if they have no choice left but to take their own life.