On October 17, 2011 at Unioto High School in Chillicothe, Ohio a 15yr old boy was attacked in class for being gay. Though his identity has been kept anonymous, you can clearly see the teenager not only being beaten in his classroom but you can also see that there is no one trying to stop his attacker.
The victim's mom, Rebecca, says this wasn't the first time her son was bullied for being gay. In fact, just two days before the beating, Rebecca's son posted a picture of himself on Facebook, and the boy who later beat him up commented that the picture was "the definition of a fag."
The Union-Scioto school district has an anti-bullying policy that protects for gender, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and disability -- but not sexual orientation or gender identity. Thus resulting in the attacker receiving only three days suspension
The incident took place last week at Unioto High School in Chillicothe, Ohio. In the video, there’s a skinny 15-year-old boy in a classroom full of students. A much bigger boy says something to him. The smaller boy tries to walk away, but the bigger boy punches him. First once. Then again. Then over and over while the smaller boy curls on the ground, writhing in pain....
"I covered myself, I shielded my body, and he just kept hitting me," the victim said later. "Nobody did anything [to help me]."
There is now a petition on Change.org demanding that the Union-Scioto school district enact an anti-bullying policy that will protect LGBT students to prevent future beatings like this one. You can sign the petition and see the cell phone video of the attack at:
http://www.change.org/petitions/bully-beats-up-gay-student-on-video-tell-ohio-school-district-to-protect-lgbt-students-from-assault
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It’s just too hard” wrote Jamie “
I don’t want to wait 3 more years, this hurts too much. How do you even know it will get better? It’s not.” This was one of the last documented statements by Jamie Hubley, a gay youth from Ottawa, Canada, who took his life on Friday, October 14.
Whether the fact that he was bullied played a factor in his suicide or not is still unknown, it is obvious that "We need to come together as community leaders, educators and concerned citizens and stand up against this injustice. We cannot continue to take small steps to end these ongoing tragedies. Discrimination and bullying must stop and we must all speak up!"
Jamie's father, Allan Hubley, released a statement saying that his son was bullied in school and that his family believes it was a factor in his suicide. Refeering to a "Rainbow Club" that Jamie tried to start at his high school to promote acceptance of others, Allan Hubley said:
"The posters were torn down and he was called vicious names in the hallways and online... We will not say that the bullying was the only reason for James's decision to take his own life but it was definitely a factor...We hope from our tragedy others will become more active in stopping this cruelty towards children."
Its hard enough living as an outcast, no one should have to live in fear as well. Find out more about the petition here:
http://www.change.org/petitions/end-bullying-and-discrimination-in-our-schools
