LGBTQ Student Rights in the Wake of Tragic Suicides
Statement from Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director of Lambda Legal:
“The tragic deaths of Jaheem Herrera and Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover underscore the importance of safe schools where harassment and violence based on racist, sexist, antigay or other biased attitudes are not tolerated. Unfortunately, there is much work to be done. Harassment of LGBTQ students and those perceived to be LGBT remains a serious problem across the country. Lambda Legal pledges to continue to stand up for students and hold schools accountable for preserving their rights and integrity. We applaud schools that stand up for safety and respect for all students because any student can be the target of LGBT-related bullying and harassment.
Lambda Legal will join the Faith and Community Alliance and other community groups at a vigil for Jaheem Herrera on Tuesday, April 28, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., First Christian Church of Decatur ,601 West Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA.
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/04/lgbtq-student…
Domestic Disturbances: Dude, You’ve Got Problems
Early this month, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old boy from Springfield, Mass., hanged himself after months of incessantly being hounded by his classmates for being “gay.” (He was not; but did, apparently, like to do well in school.)
In March, 2007, 17-year-old Eric Mohat shot himself in the head, after a long-term tormentor told him in class, “Why don’t you go home and shoot yourself; no one will miss you.” Eric liked theater, played the piano and wore bright clothing, a lawyer for his family told ABC news, and so had long been subject to taunts of “gay,” “fag,” “queer” and “homo.”
Teachers and school administrators, the Mohats’ lawsuit now asserts, did nothing.
We should do something to get this insanity under control. See Domestic Disturbances: Dude, You’ve Got Problems
To the bully, calling a boy “gay” rarely refers to sexuality, Judith Warner writes. * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/04/domestic-dist…
Mother calls for change after son’s suicide
A mother whose 11-year-old son took his own life this week is speaking out. She says her son, Carl Joseph Walker Hoover, was constantly bullied at school in the weeks leading up to his death.
Sirdeander Walker: I called his name and he didn’t respond. So I went upstairs to get Carl — and um. I found him, you know. I found him. My baby.
What happened to 44-year old Sirdeaner walker is any parent’s worst nightmare. On Monday evening, she found her 11-year old son, Carl, dead in his bedroom. He had committed suicide by hanging himself with an extension cord.
Sirdeaner Walker: It was just unbelievable to me. I thought I was in a dream. I thought I was in a nightmare. I couldn’t lift him - so all I could do was scream.
In the days since, Sirdeaner and her close family - have been asking the question why? They say Carl was a great kid who loved sports and was involved in many community organizations and attended church every Sunday. The answer, they believe, can be traced to the cruelty of some of his classmates at the New Leadership charter school in Springfield.
Sirdeander Walker: He was being teased at the school - he was being made fun of - he was being bullied. A lot of it surrounded by “you act gay,” “are you gay.”
Walker, captain of the 6th grade parent teacher organization says the bullying has been going on all year — she knew Carl had been upset by it and had alerted the school.
See Mother calls for change after son’s suicide NECN
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/04/mother-calls-…
