Every time we lose another LGBT teen to bullycide, we suffer another setback in our efforts to end this malignancy plaguing the LGBT community. Phillip Parker, 14, ended his young life last week after enduring bullying over a period of time at his Gordonsville, Tennessee high school. Tennessee is also the state where Jacob Rogers succumbed to bullycide in early December and the same state that I wrote about, here, earlier in the month. You may recall that Tennessee lawmakers are trying to pass a bill that will allow bullying as long as it is for religious, philosophical, or political beliefs. We're not going to let that happen. A petition needs to be up within the next 24 hours to present to the Tennessee legislation letting them know that we will no accept them sanctioning bullying against LGBT teens.
According to the news report, Phillip's family had gone to the school administrators numerous times to report that he was being bullied. Nothing changed. No, I'm wrong. Things DID change. Things actually got worse for him. The bullying increased. Finally, he'd had enough.
Knowing about these tragedies isn't nearly enough. What's needed is a continued concerted effort of many people, loudly and strongly stating the message that "We're mad as Hell, and we're NOT gonna take it anymore!" Every state legislature needs to be heavily petitioned until there are very strongly-worded laws on the books that will protect EVERY teen from the horrors of bullying. The penalties for bullying needs to be harsh. After all, the penalties against the families and friends of those who take their own lives because of bullying are as harsh as it gets. Further, school systems need to be penalized heavily for failure to a.) provide each student with a safe learning environment; and, b.) act upon complaints of bullying. No way should they be allowed a free pass when a family losses their loved ones.
It goes without saying that our deepest sympathies and heart-felt prayers go out to the family and friends of 14-year-old Phillip Parker. May you find peace in Paradise.
"... lawmakers are trying to pass a bill that will allow bullying as long as it is for religious, philosophical, or political beliefs."
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhat the proposed bill would do is give a license to bully LGBT teens. Follow the "trying to pass" link to the blog entry. There's a link, there, to the article.
DeleteMy heart and prayers go out to the Parker family for the senseless and tragic loss of their son Phillip. May he rest in peace and soar with the angels
ReplyDeleteI think any sort of bullying that leads to death needs to be treated like the premeditated murder it is. Perhaps that will slow the bullies down if they are charged as adults.
ReplyDeleteWow, I never thought about that, but I totally agree.
DeleteYes.
Delete"No way should they be allowed a free pass when a family losses their loved ones." They shouldn't be allowed a free pass whether the family lost someone or not. It's not right at all.
ReplyDeletewholeheartedly agree
DeleteI am livid!!! I cannot believe that schools don't take things like this seriously!!! I believe that being bullied, or harassed, or put down for anything should DEMAND attention!!! No one should feel like suicide is their only option! Wake up America, this is a problem that should be solved, NOW!!!!
ReplyDeleteI send love to Phillip and his family. All these "bullycides" are horrible, and break my heart every time I hear about one. I wish I could stop every bully and make them realize what they're doing.
ReplyDeleteWhen teachers,administrators and others in authority pasx it off as kids will be kids, there truly is no safe haven. If my teachers in Hs and middlle school had said more to me than "just ignore them" I may have been a happier student, more productive and sucessful. I think teachers,admin,and the counsellors need to be re-educated about what it can do to someone rather than play the blame game and spout retoric. And this goes for people getting bullied for any reason not just lifestyle,religion, or orientation.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is................. thank god I live in England, although much needs to be done here - it certainly appears to be better this side of the pond
ReplyDeleteI was appauled when I read this. Not only is it painful that another gay teen took his life, but the fact that Tennessee is trying to pass a law that allows bullying for the sake of religion & politics is the Biggest Fucking Slap in the Face you can imagine!! I don't normally use foul words, but to say I am Fucking Outraged would be an understatement. When will this end?? When will everyone who has endured bullying be able to feel safe and loved for who they are?? ONE MORE SUICIDE DUE TO HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING OR BULLYING IN GENERAL IS ONE TOO MANY!! As a Bisexual Man this is very painful. I have been in the predicament where I wanted to end it all. Now I'm 35 and I Thank God I Chose Life!! I won't say life is breezy, but I promise it does get Better!! Don't make a Permanent decision based on Temporary Emotion!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your words of encouragement. Now, roll up your sleeves. We've got a lot of work to do! Welcome aboard!
Deletethis is why i had to get out of teaching--my proactive, get involved with the students/find out what's really going on/do something about it classroom management style rubbed other teachers & administrators the wrong way. if a student comes & tells you something bad is going down, it shouldn't be dismissed as "tattling" & the student shouldn't be told to deal with it on their own. how would people feel if police & firefighters took that stance?
ReplyDeleteI love your stance. Thank you.
DeleteThat's why you SHOULD be in teaching. We need more like you!
DeleteThis is truely hits home for me. The insane amount of LGBT suicides in September '10 is what woke me up to the problem, and I have been fighting ever since.
ReplyDeleteEver since Jacob Rogers commited suicide I've felt terrible, like I haven't done anything at all. Jacob lived very close to where I live and I just think sometimes, maybe if I had spoken and reached out more perhaps I would've reach him. Now it's Phillip and I feel even worse, but this just fuels my fire to keep fighting for equality not just in TN, but the entire US (Quite a daunting task).
I am ashamed that I live in TN, to tell you the truth. First the 'Don't say Gay' bill and now this? This 'lisense to bully'? It's monsterous. There is a fine line between protecting students first amendment and bullying. I just know this law will be over abused if passed. It gives them excuse to get away with it, without being punished. Hopefully, God is on our side and won't let this bill pass, but only time will tell.
My thoughts go out to his family, and I hope that he is finally at peace and that his tormentors are brought to justice. I am sickened by the fact that one so young had his life destroyed to the point where he thought that ending it all was the only option for him when his life had barely begun.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P Philip Parker.
If one good thing could come out of this tragedy, it would be for the insanity that is the proposed bill to not pass in light of these events. Bullying is never okay, on any grounds. It's about time politicians supported that fact.
The bullies should be made to go to the morgue and see the empty shell they've created, the life they'veremoved from a much too young body. And also be made to face the parents, with the parents of the bullies there. It has to start at home.
ReplyDeleteMy anger cannot be described. I weep for them.
Another murder. What do adults say about this? Nothing. They let it fly like a f**kin' bird! This is what makes me so damn mad. No one EVER LISTENS. They just nod their heads and say "Yes, I agree." And you know what's funny, the fact that it's mostly targeted towards guys. OH! AND A BILL FOR ALLOWING BULLYING OVER SOME PATHETIC REASON? They only made that bill in the first place to pretty much say "We are too scared to help your son/daughter out of the bullying situations. Have a nice life." Clearly, this says it all that most people do NOT understand the affects of bullying, or bullying in general. And as Aquarian_Ideals has said, all bullies -no matter the cause- should be dealt with in adult-like consequences. In all said, this is DEFINITELY MURDER. This should be stopped. ALL OF IT. We people, need to unite and get off our asses from the computer and end this madness once and for all. If there is no other choice than a riot, let it be. I'll be sent to jail with dignity if I ever beat this cause. If I were too fail, I'll comeback again and again until I die.
ReplyDelete~Envis Rigen
He was a really great kid. Never was hurting anyone. I cry every time I think of how I just saw him walking down the halls the other day just like everyday and that's neve going to happen again. We miss you Phillip.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you have to go through this. No one should ever have to.
ReplyDeleteFirst off my heart and prayers go out to Philips family and friends. May he now rest in peace. Now may the monsters who allowed this to happen live thier lives in shame and be charged with murder. All of them. This should also include the lawmakers who allow these bills not to get passed and not to be properly written. And as for the schools not to properly supervise right from the get go, there is no excuse no matter what the law is.It is unacceptable and inhumaine to allow this behavior to happen even once without harsh penalty as a deterant.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone here as I made a statement already about them and the schools being charged with mueder along with the state who allows this to continue. But MariaWB made another good point also. They should also have to go to the morgue and also face the parents. I think every school and every class should be taken to a morgue so they see what death really looks like. How final it really is.Them be brought back to the school auditorium and have aproper speaker, maybe even parents who have had to go through such grief speak to these kids.
ReplyDeleteIt is an absolute tragedy that this has happened once again. Teachers and other indivduals in these particular situations who have the power to affect change and protect these children should definitely do so. The fact that they sit back and allow these things to happen is an atrocity to the country we live in and the values of self worth that our parents try so hard to instill in us. While kids should learn to solve their issues within their social group they should also be able to do so in a safe manner. Shame on the adults in this situation and many others for not doing what they needed to do to insure that safety.
ReplyDeleteThis will only stop when bullying like this happens to one of the legislatures or congress's own children and the outcome is not good. Then it will hit home for them. I pray it never has to come to that.
ReplyDeleteHowever, these children are usually well protected unlike all the other children who do not even get their own teacher and or principals protection let alone the board of education or police. It is not taken serious enough.
Hi This is Annie Cheng from St. Mary's Academy GSA, and I would like to post this article on our committee bulletin board. May I?
ReplyDeleteAnnie, you most certainly can.
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