If you’re already a Tonic fan you know that when we hear about good happening in the world we need to report on it. You probably also know that, occasionally, we like to shout about it. And at times, we’ve been so inspired that we’ve gone above and beyond with a major call to action.
Thanks to Ellen Degeneres, and the generosity of passionate Tonic readers, we’ve been able to help real life Super Nanny Alyson Myatt, high school lesbian and accidental activist Constance McMillan, an abused horse named Sir Lancelot and a herd of malnourished, pregnant cows.
Now, we’re able to honor and celebrate Graeme Taylor‘s brave action with a scholarship fund.
Last week we told you about the courageous and mature beyond his years high school student who delivered a powerful speech before a Howell, Mich. school board on behalf of Jay McDowell, a teacher suspended without pay for allegedly disciplining students for anti-gay sentiments. A natural orator, Taylor spoke with eloquence on the often fatal nature of bullying and the importance of standing behind individuals like McDowell. Citing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and referencing the town’s historical association with the Ku Klux Klan, Taylor asked that the decision against McDowell be reversed. (The board reaffirmed its decision. To read Superintendent Ron Wilson’s statement on the situation, click here.)
Despite the immediate futility of Graeme’s plee, the openly gay high school freshman caught the attention of Ellen Degeneres, and he appeared on her show earlier today. He tells Tonic of the experience, “It was great. Everyone was so kind there’ it was a wonderful experience.” Adding, “I thought ‘wow’ what a great person to be seeing — and then we hugged and then we had the interview.”
But, allow us to back up. We’re honored to say that prior to the show’s taping, Ellen reached out to Tonic and asked if we would partner with her again to get behind Graeme’s cause. Obviously, we said yes and quickly put a campaign into action — it’s not everyday you meet a kid with this kind of confidence and conviction.
“Bullying should stop on gays, on straight people, on Blacks, on Asians, on every human being,” Taylor tells Tonic. “No one should be bullied based on their race, gender, ethnicity, whatever.” We couldn’t agree more with this sentiment, so we were thrilled to have Ellen present Taylor with a $10,000 scholarship on our behalf. The world needs more teens — or people of any age for that matter — who are willing to boldly take a stand for what they believe in, even if it’s only to those in their immediate circle.
Laughing, Taylor tells Ellen about how he “literally came out of the closet” when he was just 13. He recalls to Tonic, “It was very stressful, but relieving in the end. I was afraid that they wouldn’t be my friends anymore.” Fortunately for Taylor that wasn’t the case; all of his friends assured him of their support. His own struggle and eventual acceptance with who he is, has allowed Taylor to help other kids. “I know that it’s helped others because I’ve gotten messages from people telling me that it’s helped them,” he said.
In addition to living by the power of example, Graeme also belongs to Riot Youth, a youth-led LGBTQQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning youth and their allies). He explains, “It’s a neutral zone in Ann Arbor. We try to make a safer climate for everybody.” Kirk Taylor, Graeme’s father, explained that organization is working to facilitate change on three levels: 1. Policy Change; 2. Training for school staff; 3. Ally training for students.
It’s encouraging to see supportive parents like Kirk and MaryAnn Taylor, who Graeme lists among his heroes (they are in company with the likes of Albert Einstein, Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, Jimmy Carter, President Obama, Nelson Mandela, and of course, Ellen). One can only surmise that some good parenting goes into a kid who says, ”I thought that it was a cause worth fighting for,” he says, “I believe that because, whenever a teacher would stand up for someone being bullied, and then be punished for it, that’s just going too far.”
In echoing Ellen’s sentiment’s, while we’re not sure what Graeme’s future holds, we’re confident he’s going to be a success and an asset to any cause upon which he chooses to advocate. But above all, we look forward to witnessing his continued dedication to his own authenticity and for doing the right thing.
Inspired by Graeme Taylor’s story and the successful, positive experiences of previous campaigns with Ellen, we at Tonic have decided to make campaigns a regular occurrence on Tonic to support a wide-range of well-deserving causes. Here’s how you can help:
- Send suggestions to editor@tonic.com on people, causes or projects that inspire you. We can’t accommodate every request, but we will respond to each one.
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter so the next time we launch a campaign or ask for input, you’re in the know.
- Timing was tight on this campaign and we fronted the donation to Graeme. Our model is to enable our community to make a difference. If you can help cover these costs so we can do this again, donate here. Any amount raised above and beyond $10K will go to Graeme Taylor. (Under no circumstance will Tonic profit off of these campaigns.)
We look forward to hearing your ideas about great causes and people doing great things. And, we appreciate your continued support in making real change a reality.
Photo courtesy of Kirk Taylor.
UPDATE: Tonic is now longer taking donations for this campaign. Thank you for your support!