August 20, 2014
Family of Rutgers Student Receives Gay Pride Award
Bobby McGuire READ TIME: 1 MIN.
NEWARK, N.J. -- The mother and brother of an 18-year-old Rutgers University student who committed suicide days after his roommate publicized details of his relationship with another man have received a gay pride award.
NJ.com reports Jane and James Clementi received the Pride Award on Tuesday from New Jersey's Essex County as part of its LGBTQ Pride Month celebration.
Tyler Clementi jumped from the George Washington Bridge in 2010 after learning roommate Dharun Ravi (dah-ROON' RAH'-vee) used a webcam to see his gay sexual encounter. His death sparked a national conversation about the treatment of young gay people.
Jane Clementi says her family wants to make sure there are "no other Tylers in this world" and create a "culture shift toward kindness."
Ravi spent 20 days in jail. His lawyer says he didn't have "ugliness" in his heart.
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