Friday, April 24th, 2009...8:42 am
Sad
Sad article from CNN
- Jaheem Herrera, 11, was frustrated with bullies calling him “gay” and “the virgin”
- Boy came home happy, then mother, sisters found him hanging by belt in closet
- Mother says she believe son killed himself because nobody was helping
- Mom: “I lost my son and now something has to be done”
back to class…
volkan
April 24th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Not the first time, not the last time something like this will happen. It’s very easy in New York to think that the gay rights cause has expanded in the past few years or so, but most gay kids across the country remain tortured by their peers every day.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I am not even sure if the kid was even gay considering we don’t know what his sexual orientation was, nevertheless, he just couldn’t stand the bullying. And being called a virgin???? is that something unusual for a kid that’s 11 these days, like don’t they have other things to do like play Skip-It.
April 25th, 2009 at 5:32 am
What a sad, sad thing for a little boy of only 11 to have to endure; and then to commit suicide. Gay and a virgin at only 11? How traumatic for a child of this age, who doesn’t even understand such matters and has no defense, only humiliation.
Mother, I’m not blaming you as you did voice your complaints several times to the school, who did absolutely nothing by way of stopping the taunts, thereby allowing your precious boy to go on being tormented, but I have just one question for you;
Why didn’t you pack it in and move your child to a different school? There are plenty of other schools out there, you do not have to stay in one that obviously is not the best place for your child, that does not care about your child’s well being while continuing to turn a blind eye to him; no matter what they said their policies are. Yes, you could have moved your household belongings if that’s what you had to do to protect your son.
I’m so sorry this happened to your little boy, and have the deepest sympathy for you and the family; but listen up parents, do NOT leave your child in a school system that is not right for them and may lead to their utter destruction. You cannot fix it and you cannot change them. Just leave. Move.
Withdraw your child from them and run like the devil is after you. No matter what you have to do, look after your child yourself, as just maybe no one else will care but you. …..I am so, so sorry.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
“Being called a “fag,” you see, actually has almost nothing to do with being gay.
It’s really about showing any perceived weakness or femininity – by being emotional, seeming incompetent, caring too much about clothing, liking to dance or even having an interest in literature.”
Judith Warner does well to address the problem in her article.
http://warner.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/who-are-you-calling-gay/
April 26th, 2009 at 11:22 am
i dont remember the last time i read anything this sad. ive been crying for about 10 minutes.
an eleven yr old kid, it’s just too much..