Today, I’m remembering Justin Aaberg. It would have been his seventeenth birthday, but relentless anti-LGBT bullying drove Justin to take his own life in July 2010.
In your honor, Justin, in honor of all those who have suffered bullying — past and present — and in honor of all those whose precious lives were lost all too soon, we will build a world where it is no longer acceptable to bully LGBT people on the playground, in the schools, at the workplace, at the altar, in the bedroom, or at the ballot box.
Justin Aaberg: March 9, 1995-July 9, 2010.
It just hit me, this kid was younger than I am and he took his own life for something that should have never happened. RIP Justin
You shall not be forgotten young one and it is incumbent upon those of us still here to ensure his life, short though it was, will not have been in vain.
WIthin life there is death. But your life was shortened because of being bullied at school. You will rest in my heart and my mind, and I hope we meet eachother sometime in the after life… Keep a seat open for me bud. Happy Birthday, and we all miss you!
its an absolute shame, this young man felt so tortured that he felt there was no way out. i make it known that bullying is not acceptable behavior,I will make it my lifes work to reach out to those who feel so outcast and alone to make them understand that it does get better. My thoughts and prayers are with this young mans family on this day. i can only imagine the pain in your hearts.
Such a waste. So glad that he is being remembered and celebrated. I wonder how many kids had never come out to anyone and had killed themselves in silence? And how many are yet to do so? It’s the responsibility of everyone to make sure that this never happens again.
When irresponsible personalities like Rush Limbaugh and others make hateful and damaging comments that can add to the negative self image that gay youth may already feel, they should be held accountable and taken off of the air. If they were to make the same types of negative comments about other races or groups such as the deff or the blind, etc, they would be admonished at once, but make comments about gay people and no one says a word, but gay people!!!
He looks so bright & happy, so shocking that this can happen, my sympathy & best wishes to his loved ones.
It hurts to think people can be so cruel just because somebody is ‘different’ from them – how can people possibly hold this type of “you’re-not-like-me-therefore-I-fear-you” type of mentality in a world like this? Hatred isn’t satisfying anybody…it only feeds a vicious circle that continues to swell…we need to quench it and get over it – Love is love.
John–It is so sweet of you to remember Justin in this manner. It brings me tears as I think about his pain that was so unbearable as to find death more acceptable.
Jerry
please make this stop
RIP may your soul finally find the peace that it deserves <3 i'm sorry things weren't better for you, what you went through is terrible and you will always be remembered to those who loved you
We have to stop the bullying. Justin,like so many others have taken there own lives because it became intolerable to just be allowed to live your own life.
There deaths have brought this to the forefront so they have not died in vain.
RIP Justin and all the others that have died needlessly.
It hurts that everyone in this world can’t get along and love one another. The world is a beautiful place and in need of our help. Instead of bullying one another we need to come together and help everyone.We are all created equal in God’s eyes and that is how all humans should see it. No one should be so fed up with their lives that they take it. Especially someone so young. RIP Justin and all the others
it makes me sick how some people are i could only imagine what he was going thru…. probably feeling so alone. rest in peace justin
It’s a shame. His personality radiates from this picture. I’m sure he was an awesome kid, and that others may have realized it if they’d allowed themselves to see beyond his sexual orientation. I hope he’s found peace now. I wish kids didn’t have to end their lives to find peace from bullying.
Life is so hard sometimes and it’s particularly hard for those who feel they have to leave to get peace. I’m so sad for his family and hope they are comforted by knowing he’ll never be treated that way again. It’s a small comfort. People forget they reap what they sow and the golden rule is ALWAYS & FOREVER a life rule. Let others be.
John:
We stand up to all bullying for you and all those who have gone before
And after you. Bullying comes in many forms.
Each day a person stands up to the verbal and physical
life sucking pain of the bully, we as a whole win.
You can count on me to step up and call it as I see it. Comes in many forms, in many places, and justice and truth most of the time are not there.
Where I go, I call it. Let’s all Call it out!
Your bright smile will be missed Justin. The world is a lesser place without you. Those who bullied and ridiculed you will receive the karma they deserve.
I took my son out of public school in kindergarten ,Thinking by him going to private Catholic school everyone wears the same shirt,pant ,shoes .It was great a little bit then he comes home and tells me how three boys held a little girl from his class down in the back seat and beat her up,now in this school it was K-12 and on the bus ,my son did the right thing and talked to his principal.The principal called the boys in his office the next day and said “John doe ” is sitting in the main office “He said you three beat up a little girl Jane Doe that’s in the second grade with John so I’m going to have to suspend you three and you are benched for this weekends football game I find this a really hard decision but if I don’t we will have little Janes Mom & Dad in hear and upset and we want to keep this quite ok you three are sick that’s all we will tell everyone and we will talk with little Janes parents and little Johns parents and sweep this under the rug”! As all three boys walked past and got a good look at my little John,the principal suggested Little Jane & to myself that let’s have Jane & Johnny home until next Monday and we shall take care of theirs grades for those days.Monday EVERYONE KNEW WHO GOT BEAT UP AND WHO TOLD ON THEM .The Monday when Jane felt better to come to school and John and the three bullies all around the school even adults ,guidance counselor ,principal,football coaches and much to my suprise parents,talked about the two of the little children and they never will forget that day .I decided to pick my son up from school that day a decision I had made after dropping him off ( if it wasn’t for the two cry babies we would have won the game said a few parents and the coaches I was shocked by the Behavior of our children’s role models .THE PHONE CALL…..HELLO MRS.DOE YES WE ARE Calling to tell you your son got in a bit of a fight,I drop the phone I just witnessed it I didn’t notice the little boy at the bottom of the high school football players and their buddies I ran to him as I start to pick him up out from under the side of the bus I notice the bus driver sitting in the drivers seat watching I see blood all over the door she opened it a little I ask why didn’t she help him she later admitted to closing the door because she didn’t want to deal with it.So my son was stomped kicked punched hit hit so hard in the kidneys he had internal damage.The schools decision to punish the ones involved including my son he was suspended for being the victim of 14,15,17,18 years olds my son a baby I elementary school
Wow Marci! Do whatever you have to do to protect your son. Assault is a crime, you should go to the police station.
Life is tough. Those who survive have to be tougher. Physically hurting someone is not always justified, but suicide because your delicate feelings are hurt is part of the culling process.
LC = social darwinist? No doubt also a loving “christian.”
LC thinks bullying is trivial. He probably was a bully himself and he’s trying to minimize his wrongdoing.
Also part of the “culling process” a bullied kid who one day decides to bring a gun to school…
LC — the only reason I’m not removing your appalling and disgusting comment is so that TWO readers can see how much work still needs to be done in the fight against bullying. You should be ashamed of yourself for displaying such repugnant callousness about the death of a child.