So sad to report, out of Buffalo:
Jamey Rodemeyer’s parents believe years of bullying drove their son to suicide. The Williamsville North freshman took his life Sunday, he was only 14 years old.
Jamey Rodemeyer posted a message online hoping that others would be inspired by his struggle with bullying. A part of the message reads, “That’s all you have to do. Just love yourself and you’re set. And I promise you, it’ll get better.”
Soon after coming home from a family camping trip, Jamey was found dead Sunday. His parents say he was always under pressure because of struggles with his sexuality.
Jamey’s mother Tracy Rodemeyer said, “So he hung around with the girls a lot, so then the teasing started happening like ‘Oh you’re such a girl or you’re gay or whatever and that bothered him for many years.”
Now, they want to carry in his message in hopes of preventing another tragedy like this one.
Jamey’s father Tim Rodemeyer said, “To the kids who are bullying they have to realize that words are very powerful and what you think is just fun and games isn’t to some people, and you are destroying a lot of lives.”
Here’s Jamey’s “It Gets Better” video.
Sadly, it seems that the hate that was spewed at him for so many years finally did get the best of him. I want to point out something in the video: did everyone notice that one of the things people were hurling at him was that he was going to go to hell? The Religious Right soullessly and callously claims that there is a difference between their bullying and the bullying kids inflict upon each other, but we know differently, and Jamey knew differently. The very message that gay kids are going to hell comes from fundamentalist religious people who love their ignorant, hateful ideology more than they love human beings like Jamey Rodemeyer. It’s then passed on to their children, who pass it on to other kids, such as this one.
Here’s the local news report on Jamey’s death:
Towleroad has much more.
[...] “Serious mental health problems”–like suicide. [...]
Are the religious right-wingers happy at the thought of this gentle, hopeful kid dead and in hell? When will they stop with their cruel ways? When they are stepping over the bodies of dead LGBT people in the street to congratulate the stupid, thoughtless bullies who drove kids like Jamey to suicide, because being dead is better than suffering at the bullies hands?
I don’t believe myself, but if there is a hell, I’d rather be there with kids like Jamey than in heaven with the right-wing haters.
May he rest in peace and his family heal. Those of us who remain will never give up the fight until this NEVER happens again. I know many of you are struggling with the horror of this and other events, and feeling tremendous anger. Please don’t become like the haters who do these things or it will never stop. Better, work for the education, enlightenment and raising of consciousness in all people so this and many other atrocities may cease to happen. Hate only breeds more hate.
This is awful, just heartbreaking.
Jessica, I’m sure we’ll hear one of them lay the blame for this on the LGBT community. They never assume any responsibility for the crap they spew.
Bully’s learn to bully from their adult role models . The blood of this 14 year old child is on the hands of the so called righteous ones .
in their twisted minds, they have such “sorrow” for this boy’s death because had he only “changed” and “repented in Jesus Christ” he wouldn’t have died, or if he did would have gone to heaven, etc. etc.
It’s disgusting
Rest in peace sweet boy. I’m so sorry you had to endure this senseless cruelty. It’s truly sickening that we live in such a cruel and intolerant world. How many more children will we loose before we learn?
I am a Christian and I am really conservative. But I cannot stand it when they bully kids until the only way they can find out is to kill themselves! That makes me ashamed to call myself a conservative Christian. God loves these people as much as anyone else! A true Christian, like me, loves them no matter what. This could be because I was bullied ever sense I was in the 7th grade. I am now in college. People just assumed that I was gay and called me a fag. I would stick up for people that weren’t gay from what I could tell and would get called gay for that. My college, a Christian one, has a lot of guys including my RAs who are supportive and caring for gay guys and love them just the way they are. We need more Christians like this. I am one of the few exceptions to the right-winged Christians who actually care for people.
I am so saddened by this. There are no words to ease the pain that his family is going thru. There is nothing that can be said to help his mother’s aching heart. RIP, Jamie. I am sorry that you were not accepted for the person you were.
Oh boy! This story really got to me and I’ve seen several. Jamie was so hopeful and upbeat in the It Gets Better video, but the criminals finally got to him. Yes, CRIMINALS!
I’m 78 and saw plenty of gay hatred in ALL the churches years ago, so when I came out of the closet, I kicked Christianity out of my life once and for all. In case you Christian lunatics don’t know, a great many gays have done the same and are very happy Atheists.
Yes, I realize some churches are becoming more accepting, but why aren’t they stepping up to the plate and screaming bloody murder at the religious criminals who violate the very principles Christ taught? No need to talk about ‘love,” because the loonies have no concept of love and only know hate.
Jerry
Whoever bullied him and posted disgusting comments about him, I hope they nail them and their parents who are as much to blame in many instances. I suspect they learn much of this behavior in their homes. Right wing religious groups are also part of the problem and should be taken to task. Words have consequences, dire consequences in this situation.
So sad. I can remember being bullied some in high school. I can remember being bullied as an adult, for being gay. All of the evil people in the world. Women who kill their babies and men who beat animals and children, and being gay is the worst crime you can commit? Doesn’t make sense. The world lost a lot with this young man’s exit. RIP Jamey.
Fly Jamie Fly, you are free now. No more pain, no more sorrow. The cares of this world are behind you now.
[...] you’ll remember, fourteen year-old Jamey Rodemeyer took his own life last week after years of anti-gay bullying. He was also a huge Lady Gaga [...]