Glee 'to highlight gay suicides'
Glee will dedicate an episode to bullying
Gay-friendly US comedy Glee will reportedly dedicate an episode to the issue of LGBT suicides.
After the reported deaths of five US teenagers who were gay or thought to be gay, the show's makers want to highlight how homophobic bullying can change lives.
Matthew Morrison, who plays Mr Schuester, told E! Online that creator Ryan Murphy was keen to show the episode this season.
He said: "Ryan wants to do an episode about it, which I think is very smart of him. As a cast I don't know much we can do. That's why I think an episode would be great… Ryan is very current with staying on the times, so I think it would be this season if it were to happen."
Kevin McHale, who plays Artie, added: "It's sad that it's taken these past few weeks and horrible tragedies to really let people know what's going on. I think being in our position and Ryan taking that on is great… Hopefully we can move the general public and let the kids and the parents watching the show know that everybody deserves to be loved."
Heather Morris (Brittany) and Jessalyn Gilsig (Terri Schuester) also gave their support to the episode.
"What's unique about Glee is we have this audience of kids and adults," Gilsig said.
"Just as it's important to send this message to the kids about bullying and the effect it can have, we have to send it to the parents. We have to send it to the teachers. It's the adults who have to start taking responsibility and managing this behaviour and educating youth on acceptance, empathy and compassion."
The most recent suicide, of 18-year-old student Tyler Clementi, was reported last week.
The Rutgers student is said to have thrown himself from a bridge after discovering his roommate and a friend broadcast footage of him having sex with a man
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