. >> reporter: linda goldman teaches at johns hopkins and she's written numerous books out of teenagersine out of 10 are harassed. and three out 10 skip school, fearing safety. >> when we ask ourselves, like what's the matter with gay kids today? i think the truer, deeper underlying condition is, what's the matter with society that separates instead of unifies. >> reporter: goldman also believes some hateful rhetoric, used in national debate over same sex marriage, and don't ask, don't tell is fueling this. >> why is that. >> policies that promote stereotyping and not accepting of one's self, absolutely leads to suicide ideas. there are several things we can do. take a look at ourselves. take a look at our own prejudices. make sure we hear them in ourselves. and that will help us to hear it in others. >> is there anything else -- something you can tell other kids now who might see this report and say, well, i'm the gay kid now being bullied in school? >> to know that you're not the only one. there's more out there. and things will get better. >> i was very lucky to survive. >> adam may,