TENNESSEE: High School Student Commits Suicide After Anti-Gay Bullying

[WillParkinson]

TENNESSEE: High School Student Commits Suicide After Anti-Gay Bullying

Yesterday Tennessee high school student Jacob Rogers killed himself after complaining about anti-gay bullying from his classmates that had forced him to drop out of school. Rogers left suicide notes that included the passwords for his phone and his email so that authorities could view what he had endured.

Friends say that kids bullied Jacob Rogers at Cheatham County Central High School for the past four years, but in the past few months it had become so bad he dropped out of school. And Wednesday, he ended his life. "He started coming home his senior year saying 'I don't want to go back. Everyone is so mean. They call me a faggot, they call me gay, a queer,'" friend Kaelynn Mooningham said. Kaelynn said her friend Jacob felt ignored. "Jacob told me no one was helping him. He constantly was going to guidance," she said. But Cheatham County Schools Director Dr. Tim Webb said the school was only aware of one incident of bullying. "She actually intervened and called the students in accused of bullying or picking. She called them in, talked to them and gave them warnings. Subsequently after that, she ran into the student and asked him if things were better and he indicated that things were better," Webb said.

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2011/12/tennessee-high-school-student-commits.html



Another child lost.

[William769]

1. Thats so horrible

This is definitely NOT a reason someone should feel the need to end their life.

I am so sad but at the same time so damn mad about this, I just want to scream.

Recommended.

[Vogon_Glory]

3. And another set of school bureaucrats are now covering their apathetic backsides. n/t

:mad:

[HillWilliam]

2. Anyone who has ever been on the wrong side of a bully

should share some human feeling for the suffering. Sadly, if the target is LGBT*.* it seems that we've "asked for it" just by being alive.

I despise everything about a bully. I want to ask these kids who hastened Jacob's death just how in the name of Dawg that made them more of a man? I hope the shame of death-hastening follows them the rest of their sorry lives.

[tblue]

4. Oh my gosh.

Poor baby!!!! How I wish I had been around him and could intervene.

Did you hear Hillary's speech she just gave? They need to play it in the schools to students and faculty. . I think I will contact some local school districts and ask them to do that. At the very least, we should use this suicide and bullying incident to educate people.

Damn, this makes me angry.

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Wonderful.

Just fucking wonderful.

Apparently Jacob's family was poor as well and can't afford to bury him.


>>>IMPORTANT UPDATE: As noted in the above-linked story, the family of Jacob Rogers does not have the money for a funeral. Today JMG, Towleroad, and Dan Savage at Seattle's Stranger are posting the below Paypal donation link. Savage is capping the donations at $5000. Anything over that amount will go to the Trevor Project, GLSEN, and the It Gets Better Project. I'm kicking in with $20 to get things rolling here. If your situation allows, please consider making a small donation too. >>>>

What a world.

[William769]

6. Thanks for the update.

I have had to pay for two funerals since 2003 nothing cheap about it. At least in my case I had life insurance.

I for one will gladly donate.

[msongs]

7. so where were his parents in all of this? nt

[Irishonly]

8. It's so wrong

We couldn't donate much. The insanity has to stop.

[NMMNG]

9. Grrrr

:mad:

[tnlefty]

10. The TN Equality Project is circulating a petitiion (change.org)

attempting to push officials in Cheatham Co. to fully investigate and determine policy changes that need to be made. I don't live in that county, but I signed it thinking that the more eyes on the officials, the more the may be pressured to change policies. http://www.change.org/petitions/support-an-lgbt-inclusive-bullying-policy-in-cheatham-county-schools

It won't help this young man, RIP, but hopefully others can be helped.