Heartbreaking: 14-Year-Old Boy Commits Suicide After Gay Bullying

I am going to try my best to treat this story the greatest respect that I can, but I want to be upfront with everyone that I may express some opinions or concerns that might not seem correct, but I want you to know that I am speaking from my heart and I want to handle this dreadful news the best I can. This is about my feelings and concerns and I would like your input in my comments section.

Thank you!

-Peter the Knight

Jamey Rodemeyer is a 14-year-old boy who committed suicide on Sunday, September 22, 2011. Usually, I do not read stories like this but I decided to face my fears and do it, and I can honestly say I am heartbroken. I am not only heartbroken for him, but heartbroken because I know from personal experience that bullying happens everyday. It is not just gays that are being bullied but many others that might be considered "different".

I honestly feel at this time that teachers and educators need to start talking and teaching their students about discrimination, bullying, etc. There needs to be classes, lectures, and special events on creating an atmosphere of respect and love for all. I remember getting teased heavily in 8th grade, and thankful I had great parents and family support but it seemed to me that the teachers were clueless or did not ever address the issue. I mean, part of growing up is learning to deal with bullies, but part of growing up should be the bullies learning to change their behaviors.

I did not know that a website such as www.itgetsbetter.org existed. I honestly am not even sure how I feel about this website at this time. According to several articles people posted some very mean words to Jamey Rodemeyer's video. The videos from It Gets Better are also posted on YouTube.com.

I did a short investigation and decided to watch the video and read the first couple sets of comments on YouTube. I was in complete and utter shock. Of course, there were many comments of love and support...but there were also outrageously dreadful comments being made. To give you an example, it is now September 22, 2011 at 1:20am (Central Standard Time) and comments like this were posted:

[I removed some offensive words!]

"What do ******* like Jamey actually contribute besides spreading AIDS to other disgusting, immoral *******?"

"Stupid ******. Too much of a ***** to actually stand up to someone bullying him. I hope they protest this little ******* funeral and blast "Born This Way" just to spite his little *** followers. You're right, he was born to be an attention seeking ****** who chose to be a ******."

I really do not like to copy and paste that type of material here, but it should come to your attention that websites like YouTube.com have become a huge problem for the exploitation of underage children. I am sorry, but it is not safe at this time to post videos of children talking about a controversial topic as being gay. While personally, I don't see this being a problem, people can be very cruel in the hidden world of the computer and internet. People become monsters because they can hide themselves under false names and post whatever they wish to the internet. Sometimes, people purposely say things like that in order to "stir the pot". Isn't that sad? And mind you the comments were made days AFTER Jamey's death.

It's sick. Something needs to be done.

[Just a side note...I should also take a closer look at It Gets Better...mind you I do like the idea behind it.]

I think some people need to come together and consider trying to disable comments being made on videos of underage children, and especially sensitive videos like Jamey's.

People are beyond mean...it comes to the point of evil, and I hardly ever use that word to describe something.

Where is love? Where is humanity?

• What can we as individuals do to help stop bullying?
• What thoughts or solutions do you have?
• Are there groups that should be getting involved?