On Thursday, on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day, 15 year-old Billy Lucas hanged himself inside his parents' barn. Today come reports from Greensburg, Indiana that Lucas had been bullied mercilessly over perceptions that he was gay.
"He was a teenager who didn't quite fit in. His classmates said Billy Lucas was bullied for being different.
The 15-year-old never told anyone he was gay but students at Greensburg High School thought he was and so they picked on him.
"People would call him 'fag' and stuff like that, just make fun of him because he's different basically," said student Dillen Swango.
Students told Fox59 News it was common knowledge that children bullied Billy and from what they said, it was getting worse. Last Thursday, Billy's mother found him dead inside their barn. He had hung himself.
Students said on that same day, some students told Billy to kill himself."
Heads up, students, parents, teachers, and community members: NEVER assume that somebody else is reporting bullying (or that anybody is doing anything about it once it has been reported). We -- all of us -- need to address this whenever we see, hear, or even hear about it. The alternative is devastating: Silence does, in fact, equal death.
If you're a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender -- or questioning -- teen and you're considering suicide, please visit TheTrevorProject.org or call the Trevor Lifeline now at 866-488-7386. For more about teen suicide and the all-too common bullying of students who are or are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender -- and for more on what YOU can do to help prevent it, check out the Give a Damn campaign's resource pages at www.wegiveadamn.org.
A Billy Lucas Memorial page has been set up on Facebook in his honor.
Comments
Thank you so much for this article. Everyone should be aware of the warning signs, bullying and increased bullying takes a major toll on someone. You are right, Silence does, in fact, equal death. I am sorry for the loss of the boy's life and will keep his family in my thoughts.
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