With the recent suicides due to bullying in America, there is a push to declare November 1st 2010,  ”National Anti-Bullying Day”.  In recent weeks, four students committed suicide because of bullying on the account of their sexual orientation. From primary school to college, bullying is still very apparent whether it is targeted at your sexual orientation, religion, race or for general differences from what is deemed normal. Where does the blame fall- parents, silent bystanders, the school or the bullies alone?

From cyber-bullying to bullying at school, these deaths might have been prevented if more people took a stand against bullying. Celebrities are now voicing their opinions in hopes to persuade students from bullying one another. Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe advocates The Trevor Project, a suicide helpline for teens, and recently stated:

“Learning about the suicide deaths of Tyler Clementi, Seth Walsh, Asher Walker, Billy Lucas and Justin Aaberg has been heartbreaking for me,” Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe said this week. ”We have a responsibility to be better to each other, and accept each others’ differences regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ability, or religion and stand up for someone when they’re bullied.”

Savage Love blogger, Dan Savage, has started the “It Gets Better” Project and tells MTV news:

[He] realized that, while it was too late to talk to Billy Lucas, it wasn’t too late to talk to the millions of kids just like him. So, right then and there, he and his husband decided to do just that. They sat down in front of a camera and told their stories about their horrific high school experiences and, more importantly, how they both survived, thrived and have gone on to live happy, healthy, joyfullives. They posted the video on YouTube and asked other gay, bisexual and transgender adults to do the same.

Often students are afraid to admit they are being bullied so hopefully with the help of celebrity advocates, the Trevor Project and the It Gets Better videos, students will know they aren’t alone and they don’t have to take it. In the recent movie, “Let Me In”, a remake of the Swedish version of “Let the Right One In”, you see the main character as a target of bullying and no help from the school, his parents or classmates. While the student is bullied for being different and somewhat of a loner, the severity of the bullying could drive any student to feel lost and alone.

You may or may not have been a victim of bullying, but you can do something to prevent it from happening to others. Don’t be a silent bystander, join the Anti-Bullying Facebook page and find out what your school is doing in the fight against bullying.

In memory of Seth Walsh, Billy Lucas, Asher Brown, Justin Aaberg and Tyler Clementi.