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Two boys commit suicide after enduring homophobic bullying at school
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“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
Two 11-year-old boys took their own lives this month. Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover of Massachusetts and Jaheem Herrera of Georgia both committed suicide by hanging themselves after enduring unbearable anti-gay bullying at their respective schools. They join an alarmingly growing list of students who have ended their lives, desperate to escape the torture of relentless homophobic attacks. School officials failed to address the bullying despite Walker-Hoover and Herrera’s parents’ repeated attempts to raise their concerns.
The Trevor Project website explains that while sexual orientation and gender identity alone are not risk factors for suicide, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth face many social factors that put them at higher risk for self-destructive behaviors, including suicide.
According to a 2006 Massachusetts Youth Risk Survey, LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. The 2007 National School Climate Survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) revealed that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBTQ middle and high school students experienced harassment based on their perceived sexual orientation. The following video illustrates one young boy's emotional plea:
The recent tragedies surrounding bullying have highlighted the growing need for school administrations to establish protective measures to ensure the safety of all students. According to GLSEN, “one of the most effective steps schools, school districts and states can take to improve school climate and make schools safer is to enact safe schools laws and policies. For these policies to make sure that all students are protected, they must include enumerated categories such as race, gender, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.”
GLSEN continues to elaborate that, “only 11 states and the District of Columbia currently protect students from bullying and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation. Of those 11, only 7 states and D.C. protect students based on gender identity/expression.”
States with Safe Schools Laws that protect students based on sexual orientation:
California
Connecticut
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New Jersey
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
States with Safe Schools Laws that protect students based on gender identity/expression:
California
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
New Jersey
Vermont
How can schools address the alarming intolerance and bullying facing perceived and actual LGBTQ students? GLSEN shows that the following measures encouraged positive intervention and support:
- Students in schools with a Gay-Straight Alliance reported hearing fewer homophobic remarks, experienced less harassment and assault because of their sexual orientation and gender expression, were more likely to report incidents of harassment and assault to school staff, were less likely to feel unsafe because of their sexual orientation or gender expression, were less likely to miss school because of safety concerns and reported a greater sense of belonging to their school community.
- The presence of supportive staff contributed to a range of positive indicators including fewer reports of missing school, greater academic achievement, higher educational aspirations and a greater sense of belonging to their school community.
- Students from a school with a safe school policy that included protections based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression heard fewer homophobic remarks, experienced lower levels of victimization related to their sexual orientation, were more likely to report that staff intervened when hearing homophobic remarks and were more likely to report incidents of harassment and assault to school staff.
In addition to GLSEN’s findings, ABC News highlighted one Nevada school’s efforts to combat bullying with an innovative approach: help the bullies. Click here to watch the encouraging story.
Whether a child is gay or straight, male or female, fat or skinny, black, brown, or white, all children are entitled to receive an education in a safe and supportive environment.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, there is hope. For assistance and more information about how recognize and help suicidal individuals, please visit The Trevor Project’s website or call the Trevor Helpline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386).
For more information about this topic, visit the Aurora Family Examiner's article.
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