Have we as a people become so jaded with our government that we have lost what little compassion we once had for the people who actually live in this country? I only ask because I wonder if we have lost sight of who we are – fundamentally – as a people. I’m asking” Who are we?

It seems like just about every week, we hear about another young man or woman who has committed suicide as a result of bullying.

Unless you were thin, rich and gorgeous growing up, you can probably remember being teased and tormented when you were in school. Of course, not too thin, and not too rich. But if you were overweight, wore glasses, not good in sports or not part of the “in crowd,” you were probably bullied. And if there was any chance you could be LGBT, even if no one in the world knew for sure, including yourself, you went to the top of the list.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Assemblymember Tom Ammiano has introduced the School Success and Opportunity Act, Assembly Bill 1266, co-authored by Sens. Mark Leno and Ricardo Lara. The bill will ensure that California public schools understand their responsibility for the success and well-being of all students, including transgender students, and will allow transgender students to fully participate in all school activities, programs, and facilities.

When I got to the office yesterday, I had a voicemail from a young man I’ve never met before. The message began, “My name is Benjamin. You don’t know me, but one of your colleagues referred you to me.”