Earlier this year, Buffalo teenager Jamey Rodermeyer contributed a video to the “It Gets Better” anti-bullying campaign. At the young age of 14, Rodermeyer thought his message could be a beacon of hope to whomever was watching and suffering.
Just four months later, Jamey is dead. He committed suicide. Jamey’s parents, who found him dead at their home early yesterday morning, say that he had been bullied because of his perceived sexuality for years, but they thought that he was doing better. In fact, he had just started high school three weeks ago.
Friends at his school, thought, say he was still being teased and bullied regularly.
In the wake of their loss, the Rodemeyers hope to carry on their son’s message of anti-bullying and acceptance.
“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,” Jamey’s father told WIVB.
Gay bullying has been gaining increasing media attention this year, as several tragedies have brought the issue into the forefront. Earlier this month, the California State Senate passed “Seth’s Law”, which is a measure designed to curb anti-gay bullying in schools.
For more information, or if you need help, head to stopbullying.gov.
You can check out Jamey’s video below. If this incident doesn’t make you stop and wonder WTF is wrong with society today, nothing will.
Incoming search terms:
Get Blippitt via RSS feed, Facebook, Twitter, Google+,
and be sure to get our Daily Email Broadcast.
