Who's the Bully Now?

Recently two headlines; 11-Year-Old Hangs Himself after Enduring Daily Anti-Gay Bullying and Family says bullying led boy, 11, to hang himself reminded me once again that bullying continues in the schools and that suicide amongst young gay and presumed gay youth that are bullied at school just goes on and on.

The organizers of last Fridays Day of Silence was hoping to make a dent in those statistics and bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. There were many who objected.

Like Karen England, executive director of the Capitol Resource Institute, Laurie Higgins of the noted hate group Illinois Family Institute and Americans for Truth about Homosexuality a part of a national coalition of pro-family organizations urging parents to call their children out of school on the Day of Silence.

So I guess the recent suicide of 11 year-year old Carl Walker-Hoover, fifth grader Jaheem Herrera among several other students just this year didn't seem to phase those that opposed the Day of Silence. I guess as long as it's somebody elses kids(?).

Laws can be passed. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Member Daniel J. O'Donnell helped pass the "Dignity for All Students Act"", a measure aimed at ensuring public school communities provide students with a learning environment free of discrimination.

The mother of 11 year-year old Carl Walker-Hoover said the school had an anti-bullying policy and that she had complained of her sons bullying weekly.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network conducted a survey on its behalf by Harris Interactive® titled “From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, A Survey of Students and Teachers” The national survey of over 3,400 students aged 13-18 and over 1,000 secondary school teachers, explores students’ and teachers’ experiences with bullying and harassment, and their attitudes about this serious problem in America’s schools.strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

So, the Bullying Ball goes back and forth between organizations like GLSEN, Day of Silence on one side of the kids and Illinois Family Institute, ATAH, Capital Resource Institute on the other side of the kids. Law makers are on the sidelines trying to referee. All three sides feeling they are "right" and "protecting the kids".

Many more kids make it through the bullying years than not. Yet, there are kids who feel their only "out" of this temporary torment is suicide. Tolerance and acceptance on the part of the parents, the teachers, religious groups and our laws will go a long way in preventing further senseless acts.