Bullying Claims Another Life

A Mississippi boy who was in the sixth grade hanged himself this month. His mother said he was being bullied because he had stated that he may be bisexual.

We must not accept a culture where children are bullied to death for any reason, and we must not accept a culture were pre-teens and teens are picked on, bullied, and cast out just because they may thing they like others of the same sex. No child should ever feel that his or her only option is suicide. They should never belief that death is the only way to escape the pain they feel.

Why was there not one person this boy felt he could turn to? Why did the kids who bullied him—sixth grade children—believe that him being bisexual was a reason to treat him so badly? Why did nobody speak up for him?

This boy did not have to die. He should not have died. Yet he is dead, and we should keep asking why until we look in the mirror and figure out the answer: We allow a culture where prejudice, hate, and intolerance thrives.

You don't have to agree with someone's sexuality. You don't have to support LGBT rights if you don't want to. But you sure as hell don't have to hate someone to the point of suicide, either.

If you have a child or loved one who is gay, bisexual, lesbian, or transgender, and you just don't know how to support, love, and help them: contact PFLAS (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) at pflag.org. They can support YOU and give you answers on how to support your loved one.

If you know a LGBT teenager or pre-teen who may be at risk of suicide, lead them to The Trevor Project (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/) and give them The Trevor Project's 24 Hour LGBT youth lifeline number (1-866-488-7386).

If you know ANYONE contemplating suicide, give them the number for the Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). TTY 800-799-4889 (for the deaf). www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org