TEEN COMMITS SUICIDE AFTER YEARS OF GAY BULLYING
A 14-year-old boy in Buffalo, New York has committed suicide after years of struggling with anti-gay bullying.
On September 9th, Jamey Rodemeyer, who his mother said was questioning his sexuality, wrote online: “I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens.”
Just over a week later, he was found dead, apparently after committing suicide, reports Buffalo News.
Earlier he had posted a lyric from Lady Gaga’s The Queen on his Facebook page, “Don’t forget me when I come crying to heaven’s door”, and said that he wanted to see his late great-grandmother.
Rodemeyer was a regular blogger and often commented on his bullying and mentioned thoughts of suicide.
Anonymous comments on his accounts included: “JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT ANND UGLY. HE MUST DIE!” and “I wouldn’t care if you died. No one would. So just do it 🙂 It would make everyone WAY more happier!”
Ironically, in May, Rodemeyer filmed and posted an “It Gets Better” video intended to inspire young people who are victims of bullying. (Watch the video below.)
“Love yourself and you’re set. I promise you, it will get better,” he said.
For Rodemeyer, things did not get better.
It is absolutely inexcusable that kids are pushed to a point where they will kill themselves because it is easier/better to be dead than be gay. This is why every person needs to come out to show that there are many of us and that it’s okay not to fit the norm. Very sad.
This is terrible.
I just wonder how prevalent this type of bullying is in South Africa.