Phillip Parker, 14, of Gordonsville, Tenn., killed himself this month, a victim of constant bullying at school, his parents said. “He kept telling me he had a rock on his chest,” said Ruby Harris, Phillip’s grandmother. “He just wanted to take the rock off where he could breathe.” His death stunned his family (750 people [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Bullying’
Gay Canadian teen was bullied because he preferred figure skating to hockey
There are really no words to convey the sadness over another suicide by a gay teenager, this time Jamie Hubley, 15, from Ottawa. He killed himself Saturday, overcome by depression from being bullied and harassed as the only openly gay student at his school. He was picked on because he preferred figure skating to ice [...]
Jamey Rodemeyer: This is why pro athletes should come out of our society’s last closet
One of the reasons we hear professional athletes don’t come out is that they don’t have a good reason. “They would risk too much,” we hear. “They can just wait until after retirement.” But of course, even then they keep chasing a million-dollar dangling post-career carrot. So they stay in the closet. Let me introduce [...]
Phillies to say “It Gets Better” (finally)
In the end, it seems DeSean Jackson’s stupidity helped do some good after all. I was pleased to see that MLB teams began to create their own “It Gets Better” videos to help combat bullying. The San Francisco Giants were the first to complete theirs, followed by the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. In [...]
Kobe Bryant says he protected gay kids and will do more soon
The biggest news since we last checked in with Kobe Bryant might be that Bryant allegedly told ESPN reporter Lisa Salters he used to beat up kids for teasing gay students, and that he intends to do more on the issue. From Towleroad: I used to beat up a lot of kids even in high [...]
Video: Bullied teen gets fed up, fights back
By now, you might have seen the video that’s all over the Internet of Casey, a student in Australia who friends say has been regularly bullied. In the video, a smaller student is punching Casey in the face while taunting him as you can hear snickers in the background by the people filming it. Then [...]
Gay high school track athlete helps teachers combat bullying at his school
Last week I wrote about how an openly gay track athlete in Pennsylvania needed some tips on how to address teachers at an anti-bullying seminar at his high school. The athlete, Craig Cassey Jr., has now blogged about the presentation he made with other students. It moved many teachers to tears. “I’m proud of you, [...]
Gay high school athlete asks: How can teachers help LGBTQ students against bullying?
Last week, I introduced you to Craig Cassey Jr., a Philadelphia area openly gay high school athlete who started a blog, Craig’s Gay Word. Craig is now asking for advice on how teachers can assist in the fight against bullying. Craig posted this: Whether you went to school in the 1950s or are a current [...]
TNA launches anti-bullying PSA and Web site
TNA Wrestling is putting their money where their mouth is and pumping tons of resources into their Eliminate The Hate campaign aimed at stopping name-calling and bullying. Their new PSA features many of TNA’s biggest stars and even includes pro wrestling legend Ric Flair saying “it’s time” to eliminate the hate. Spike TV will air [...]
Pro athletes Standing Tough against bullies
Derek & Romaine, the top show on Sirius XM’s OutQ, have started a campaign showcasing top-level athletes taking stands against bullying. “Standing Tough” came from a brainstorm with professional wrestler Mick Foley. So far they have various pro wrestlers taking a stand, but some non-pro-wrestlers are coming soon. Romaine knows a thing or two about [...]
TNA Wrestling launches anti-hate campaign
Total Nonstop Action wrestling has launched an anti-hate campaign aimed to stop bullying of youth. The issue has garnered national attention in recent weeks with the suicides of various bullied gay youth. They’re putting some of their biggest stars and TV time behind the campaign, marking a true commitment to the effort. While so many [...]
Video: Drew Brees speaks out against bullies
Bravo to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who delivered an anti-bullying message that aired on the “Ellen” show this week. Brees is speaking out after a rash of suicides among gay teens, many the victims of bullies (of course, not all victims of bullies are gay but LGBT teens are a very at-risk group). [...]
Anti-Gay Bullying Leads To 6th Grader’s Suicide
Sixth-grader Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover (at right) had been playing football and basketball at the New Leadership Charter School in Springfield, Massachusetts trying to make friends. But the new kid had become the target for bullies. According to his mother, Carl had been harassed and bullied for months on end for his clothing and was called [...]