Tyler Clementi’s Parents Demand Apology From National Organization For Marriage

President of Ruth Institute Criticizes Tyler in Iowa State University Speech

Last month, Jennifer Roback Morse, President and founder of the Ruth Institute, a project of the National Organization for Marriage for the promotion of men/women marriage, spoke to a group of Catholic students at Iowa State University.  In that speech, Dr. Morse urged students to influence gay youth, after befriending them,  to use sexual restraint as an alternative “ to the gay influences” in their lives who may pressure them to have sex.

The Offensive Remark

Morse went on to refer to Tyler Clementi as “that kid Tyler Clementi who killed himself – who threw himself off the George Washington Bridge.” She continues, “ I mean, there was a much older man in the picture…And so I think friendship is what you have to offer.  There are a lot of situations where people are doing something sexual that’s probably not the best thing for them and it would be better if they had somebody who’d be friends with them without coming on to them or without judging them.”

What The Clementis Have to Retort

The Clementis denounced Morse’s comments as “ludicrous,” for connecting their son’s suicide to support from other members of the gay community. “To exploit our late son’s name to  advance an anti-equality agenda is offensive and wrong.  By doing so, National Organization for Marriage proves that not only is there no low they will not sink to, to advance their cruel agenda- but that neither they nor Ms. Morse have any grip on reality.  The very idea that Tyler’s tragedy happened because of too much support – instead of not enough – is ludicrous.  Shame on them.”

Tyler’s parents weren’t the only ones who were offended.  GLAAD (Gay, Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), Equality Matters, and the Human Rights Campaign all demanded an apology as well.  The Southern Poverty Law Center has classified The National Organization for Marriage as an anti-gay group. GLAAD’s President Herndon Graddick said in a statement that “they’re using Tyler’s story to pit young people against their own peers. This is among the more reprehensible tactics we’ve seen seen from NOM.”

How The Clementis Have Honored Tyler’s Name

Two years after their son’s suicide in 2010, the Clementis dedicated a Research Center, Tyler Clementi Research Center at Rutgers University (where Tyler was a Freshman).  The goal of the center is to provide a scholarly support for the work of policymakers, social activists, community leaders and other advocates for vulnerable youth.

On Capitol Hill, local lawmakers are still fighting to get a bill named after him passed.  The proposed Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act would require all universities to have an anti-harassment policy.