A reminder about why we need the Day of Silence

Anti-Gay Bullying Drives 11-Year-Old to Suicide

Relentless taunting resulted in the tragic end of an 11-year-old Massachusetts boy, who hanged himself last week after being teased by his classmates.

As reported by PUBLICNOW.com, Sirdeaner L. Walker discovered her son, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, hanging by an extension cord in her Springfield home on April 6. Walker said her sixth-grade student at the New Leadership Charter School, was often the target of gay jokes and was threatened with physical violence on a daily basis. The young football and basketball athlete, who was also a Boy Scout, took his own life when anti-gay bullying and constant harassment became too much for him to endure. Since September, the boy's mother made frequents phone calls to the school's administrative staff and pleaded for them to address the situation but claims to have gotten minimal response.

Walker-Hoover's suicide occurred just two weeks before the National Day of Silence. Thousands of students will participate in the annual event by taking a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying and harassment at school. . . .

According to GLESN, this is the fourth suicide of a middle-school aged child linked to anti-gay bullying this year.

More here

No child should be put in a situation where he or she feels that the only way to stop taunts is to commit suicide.

Our opponents are always whining about the alleged "gay agenda," but why is it that they never talk about helping to stop the hurt.

They give offhand comments like "well no child should be picked on," or "everyone gets picked on" and it makes me wonder just where their hearts lie.

And in our sadness over those who commit suicide, let's not forget those who don't necessarily harm themselves in a permanent manner, but whose lives are negatively affected by the taunts they are subjected to.

I knew an intelligent, bright young man who was openly gay - he couldn't hide his mannerisms and such. He was subjected to taunts and constantly picked so much so that he dropped out of school.

With no education to speak of, he continued to make bad choices until one cost him his life.

Now folks could say that he was responsible for his own life and the decisions he made - this is true. But I think we all have a little responsibility in each other's lives.

If we see someone stumble, we should go and help them up.

If we see someone drop some money on the floor, we should make that person aware of his or her potential financial loss.

And if we see someone being picked on or know of someone getting no love or support for any reason, we have a responsibility to do what we can to stop the taunts and provide the love and support.

That's exactly what folks are trying to do during Day of Silence.

How can anyone not support that?