Delinquent Under-age Bully gets a slap on the hand after video beating went viral and petitions demanded action

Zach Huston, a freshman at Unioto High School in Chillicothe, Ohio, was the subject of a beating, caught on video that went viral online. He says that without the October 17 attack being filmed, faculty and administrators would have taken little action against his assailant. Even his mother has been the subject of controversy online with people saying she is only looking to profit from her son's beating. What a bunch of low life snobs to think that a mother, defending her gay son, is more worried about money than ensuring the safety of her son.

Zach has continued back at school, refusing to give in to the bullies and taunts he endures every day, both at school and online by cyberbullying. An attorney, retained on his behalf, has issued a notice that there will be repercussions for the lack of actions taken by school administrators, the student responsible for the beating, and the apparent refusal to end the bullying of Zack and others.

I applaud his mother for not only accepting her son, but for standing against those who wish to harm him. People need to take a stand against bullying before this happens again and we lose any more teens to suicide.

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US Senate To Vote On Bill That Will Allow The Military To Arrest Americans On American Soil And Hold Them Indefinitely

As we lose more and more of our constitutional rights every day, this is one that we MUST take a stand on, and immediately. A Republican sponsored bill is about to be voted on that will allow the president to authorize the military to arrest and hold indefinitely any American in the USA for no reason and for an indeterminate amount of time.

We are truly headed down a very dangerous road that has been paved with greed and the need for control of the masses by the few who pull all the strings in our country. While the president has said he would veto such legislation that literally smacks of tyranny and a dictatorial take-over of America, this is the most dangerous that could be set to relieve us of any and all rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

America is NOT a battlefield. America is a free country and American citizens should not ever be arrested by the military and certainly not without being charged or getting a trial. This provision would cast aside the Constitution and put the liberties of American citizens here at home and around the world at serious risk. Please call your senator or visit this link, because this is a risk Americans cannot afford to take.

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Case Closed: Jamey Rodemeyer's Bullies Not Charged | News | The Advocate

While the Brandon McInerney case ended up with some justice in the cold-blooded murder of a young student in school, this case serves to emphasize the point that there still exists injustice, hate and lack of accountability on the part of teachers, administrators, police and parents in educating our children when it comes to right and wrong.

You can read the sad article I refer to here, but what I wanted to post out there were some of the comments made following this post on Facebook.

Michelle  H.

Bullying has always exsisted and will continue to exsist because we don't teach our children value for others and the dignity that we share in being human. All we teach is Competion, Ambition and Survival of the fitest. Respect is the basis of all relationships. Human dignity is the most important thing we can teach children, not us vs them. Success is possible in greater numbers when we don't crush each other in a blind desperate reach for a higher social status.

 Jim C.

Michelle Calienes Harvelle So well said! Our society has embraced a mind set of Competition: Winners & Losers, the strong deserve to dominate the weak, the poor deserve to suffer for not being mean enough, aggresive enough, forceful enough to bully "success" out of the hands of others. We have come to merciless and it's bad for everyone. Only through collaboration does our species build anything at all - from friendships, to neighbors to nations. Each of us is a valuable organ in the body of humanity. The Bullies must be redeemed and the Bullied protected. Bullying, Domination, Oppression etc. are always wrong. Always. That includes all victims - no exceptions not even gay men and transgendered women. NO exceptions set aside for wanton cruelty. Never.

  OccupyEquality

There are other avenues for the family. http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/40190330 gives parents the right to ask for a federal investigation from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and I hope they do. 

This particular one disturbed me and I had to comment, along with others

Jackson E. · Top Commenter

or wait...wait until the spotlight is off and no one is paying attention anymore and then...accidents happen.

Maybe the children that taunted poor Jaime will be hit and killed in a hit-n-run "accident" or maybe they were shot and killed randomly or stabbed in a crowded area. Accidents happen all the time. It's just about time they started happening to these bullies. 

Deanne C. · Top Commenter ·

Jackson Euler, I so disagree with you on this one. I would never wish the hate, beatings or rape that I or any one else had has to endure on anyone, not even those that hate. I do however understand that equality comes by being the example, and by treating everyone else as you believe you should be treated. To do what you are saying makes one no different than those that drove Jamie to his suicide. To insure that the world knows of the injustices that occur every day in LGBT lives and to be a just person despite them is the only way to gain true equality for all Americans. We must lead our country by example.

Jackson E. · Top Commenter

Deanne Cooley Thanks for your post, Deanne. I hope you are right but I still disagree with you. A few "mysterious" beatings or "accidents" and just watch how these attacks stop. If it were my kid, I would be at the shooting range right now, training for the day that I could take their lives as they took my child. Maybe 5 years, maybe 10 years, maybe 25 years but justice would be done.
Good luck to you.

And, my response...

Barry Mattison · Jackson Euler : I don't know if you realize it, but in a way, your statement is the statement of a bully and the theme of a gang. Taking another life for a life is 'Old Testament" and not the answer to violence. God is about love, not violence and retribution. In as much as I write and blog daily about this issue in the hopes of ending it, I would never advocate violence against violence. It takes a strong stand by a lot of people to put an end to something deemed as wrong and shameful as bullying. I'll ride the buses, stand in the lines, write, fight peacefully for change, but I won't hurt another, especially children who are essentially a copy of their home, family and a sick society's environment. Pu the blame where it makes the most sense and go after changing them

Then this final jerk chimes in...in part ;

Sam Abbott · Subscribe

Chris Clowes : It is stupid to think that this is just an online thing. Think before you speak, especially stupidly Chriso. If you are unable to have control over or a healthy communication with your children then do not have children at all. It is your effing responsibility to know what is going on in their lives, otherwise don't have children like many lesbians choose to as they do not like children to begin with but that's another discussion.

 

Sam Abbott · Subscribe

Chris Clowes : You toned it down and lost your temper again. Typical angry lesbian. I feel badly for your children if you have some or plan to. Don't spew that angry BS onto them or get angrier and bark louder when someone makes you swallow your own BS. Got it?

 

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UPDATE: Brandon McInerney finally jailed after pleading guilty

McInerney                                          King

It will never bring Lawrence back, or lighten the pain of his family, but justice has at least been served in part with the jailing of Brandon McInerney for the murder of Lawrence King in 2008, in the classroom, in front of other students.

Last month a jury ended up with a mistrial due to the charge of this being a hate crime added to the murder charges. Even though over 100 witnesses testified in the trial, they still couldn't come up with a decision due to the lousy definition of what constitutes a hate crime. The clear and precise definition of what constitutes a hate crime is one issue that I've said this country needs to adopt nationwide. And further, it should be automatically applied by prosecuting attorneys and police when it meets the criteria until such time as it can be proven otherwise.

The reason this trial ended up on a mistrial was only due to the definition of hate crime. Now McInerney is facing a conviction of 21 years in jail for second-degree murder in addition to several other charges. Justice may have been served, but I doubt it and so don't some of the jurors who have spoken out concerning this case.

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Bullying - Video by Everynone.com

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...this is worth a lot more than a thousand pictures.

Losers from Everynone on Vimeo.

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Philadelphia - City Hall recognizes LGBT homeless youth

Just when I was wondering if we had forgotten about homeless youth, especially LGBT youth who have a much higher probability of being homeless due to coming out to parents who are not accepting, the city of Philadelphia does something right.

For the first time ever, the city is formally recognizing November as Runaway and Homeless Youth Awareness Month, marking the occasion with a proclamation that was read Tuesday at City Hall by Gloria Casarez, the city’s director of LGBT affairs.

“National Homeless Youth Awareness Month provides an opportunity to shed light on the issues of youth homelessness and the challenges [the youth] face daily,” Casarez read. “Along with losing their home, their community, their friends and their routines, as well as a sense of stability, many homeless young people are victims of trauma. While trying to survive on the streets, youth are exposed to countless dangers with increasing likelihood of substance abuse, early parenthood or depression.”

According to C2P (Housing Committee of Connect To Protect, a coalition of youth-serving agencies and advocates, organized by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), LGBT youth are disproportionately affected by homelessness, with an estimated one in five Philadelphia homeless youth identifying as LGBT.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless:

•  20% of homeless youth are LGBT compared  to a general LGBT youth population of 10%.
• LGBT youth, once homeless, are at higher risk for victimization, mental health problems, and unsafe sexual practices. 58.7% of LGBT homeless youth have been sexually victimized compared to 33.4% of heterosexual homeless youth
• LGBT youth are roughly 7.4 times more likely to experience acts of sexual violence than heterosexual homeless youth
• LGBT homeless youth commit suicide at higher rates (62%) than heterosexual homeless youth (29%)

It would be great if this city's recognition of LGBT homeless youth issues would spread throughout the country and hopefully, lower crimes and suicide, against and by, LGBT youth.

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Bullied Gay Teen Fights Ariz. School District

After Merik Castro, a gay Arizona teen who was bullied so relentlessly he once considered suicide, collected more than 3,000 online petition signatures and generated publicity, the school board updated its bullying guidelines at a packed public meeting last month, adding "sexual preference" under its harassment policy.

The problem is that the wording still needs to be changed to be effective according to Castro. The word "preference" implies that orientation is a choice, he says, assigning blame to victims. Nothing new there.

"It basically says you’re choosing this lifestyle," Castro told EDGE. "You’re choosing to be bullied."

According to EDGE, "Castro said he was called names, pushed into lockers and taunted so severely by his classmates at Wigwam Creek Middle School that he wrote a suicide letter. He eventually reached out to Caleb Laieski, a 16-year-old activist for bullied LGBT youth.


After Laieski sent in an anonymous tip about a student being bullied for his sexual orientation, the school focused on Castro and launched an investigation. Three students were eventually suspended and Castro transferred schools.


'I feel like they expelled me out to get rid of the problem,' he said. 'They got rid of the victim, but not the bullying.'.

Ann Donahue, community liaison for the Litchfield Elementary School District, said Castro chose to transfer. She could not confirm allegations that the superintendent pulled aside Castro and his mother, a school district employee, and pressed them with questions about his sexual orientation.

"She told me, ’Well now that you’re choosing this alternative lifestyle, there come consequences and you’re going to get bullied,’" recalled Castro.

This is the same story we hear over and over as bullied students are either forced to change schools, commit suicide, or end up being home schooled. School Districts across the country must come to the realization that ignoring bullying does not make it better in any sense of the word.

Laieski (the 16 year-old activist) is helping Castro look into legal options and the process of recalling school board members.

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Since 2004 in Texas: Slaps on the Wrist for Judicial Misconduct | Addicting Info

The Texas "Good 'ol Boys" group has gathered their wagons around the not-so-honorable Judge Adams who beat his own daughter for nearly 8 minutes as seen in the recent YouTube video. According to information posted in this article on addictinginfo.org, don't expect anything to come of it.

The DA has already informed the world that there will be no prosecution or other action taken in this case, making this one of the most deplorable acts of bullying we've publicly seen lately...except of course for the recent video's of student bullies beating up other students while fellow students look on and cheer.

Here is the contact information for the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct, a committee of fellow anti-gay/bully-supporting judges and lawyers that are responsible for disciplining other judges in cases such as this. I found it interesting that there is no way to directly contact them other than through the following channels. I would encourage everyone who believes that this judge should be disbarred to contact this committee and let them know that we are watching, and we are not happy!

"But if anyone’s hoping that the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct will wield the mighty axe on Judge Adams, forget it.  A review of the Disciplinary Actions by the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct from 2004 to the present shows that there was not a single suspension, removal or censure issued that were not ultimately lifted by that Commission for judicial misconduct.  And it’s not like Judge Adams – or other sitting judges who were disciplined – hadn’t committed clear judicial violations. "

Feel free to contact the office of the SCJC at the following:

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12265 Austin, Texas 78711
Telephone: (512) 463-5533
Toll Free: (877) 228-5750
Fax: (512) 463-0511
TDD: (800) RELAY-TX

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November is Anti-Bullying Week/Month : Nov. 13-19, 2011

October was officially recognized as anti-bullying month. However, that has been extended into November, and hopefully, even longer. 

Download and share this mp3 audio file. Ask that it be played in your school or send it
to your local radio station and request they play it as a public service announcement.

Here is what Rick Mercer of CBC Television's Rick Mercer Report said about
the importance of the annual Bullying Awareness Week!

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Cohoes High School holds anti-bullying presentation

COHOES, N.Y. - As Niskayuna Police and the FBI investigate threatening videos on YouTube, Cohoes High School takes on the growing issue of cyberbullying Thursday night.

Students, parents, and community members are invited to attend an anti-bullying presentation at the high school, starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night. The event will feature Jesse Saperstein, author of "Atypical: Life with Asperger's in 20 1/3 Chapters," speaking to the audience about his experiences with bullying and cyberbullying.



In June, a Cohoes teen became the first person to be charged under Albany County's new cyberbullying law.
Albany county passes cyberbullying law
Facebook page created for bullying

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UPDATE: 18 year-old detained over death of Stuart Walker - PinkPaper.com

As reported on PinkPaper.com, a teenager has been detained in the gruesome death of Stuart Walker (UK) . The murder occurred a week ago in the UK and was reported worldwide as a gay-hate crime. Some have noted that Walker was recently being investigated regarding an incident with a young boy prior to the murder. Nothing lately has been released confirming an investigation.

Walker was found burned to death with multiple wounds, indicating some amount of beating prior to being set on fire and left to die. A memorial page on social networking site Facebook, entitled R.I.P. Stuart Walker, has already attracted thousands of 'likes' from mourners.

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Bully's Brutal Assault of Gay Ohio High School Student Caught on Camera: VIDEO |Gay News|Gay Blog Towleroad

This is hard to watch...this bully ranks right up there with the one that shot and killed King in the classroom and after a jury trial, was found not guilty (re-trial is pending.) This big bully beat up another student for being gay after putting comments on his FaceBook page about 'fags', and did it in front of other classmates during school. Another student filmed it on their phone, but the bully was only given 3 days suspension while the student was treated for a concussion and broken teeth.

This is not supposed to still be happening! Not in our society, and especially with all the recent focus on school bullying. I've attached the video, but go to the story for more details.

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Anti-gay Twitter users mock Stuart Walker’s death - PinkNews.co.uk

I know how frustrating it can be to read about this sort of thing, but there's that old 'Freedom of Speech' thing to contend with. But actually posting tweets and comments such as this tweet, "Another user, @Realist_Eman, wrote: 'Lool a gay Man called Stuart Walker got killed for being gay, that will teach people not to be gay.'," can really make the hairs rise on one's neck. Where do people get this crap from?

I firmly believe that people are entitled to speak their minds, but there has to be some line that can be crossed when those comments physically or emotionally affect others' lives. How or when that line is crossed is pretty grey in a homophobic society that encourages bullying in so many ways. Politicians bully, companies,leaders,schools,parents and students all bully to great extent. But at some point society has to say, as it is lately, that it's not right and you will be held accountable for your actions. However, therein lies the big problem. How can you hold people, like the ones who made comments such as these in this article, accountable for cyberbullying and causing emotional abuse on a family in grief when society supports that bullying? People are dying, are emotionally scarred for life, and some end up taking their own lives because of the stress and feeling that they are alone in their depression and humiliation.

The time has come to put an emphatic end to this attack. But the obvious question remains...how? At any rate, tweet this: "Rest in peace Stuart Walker; we're so sorry."

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Oregon Teen Murdered Because he "looked" Jewish

Unfortunately hate and bigotry have no boundaries, as the recent murder of an Oregon teen proves. This video, from NWCN tells the story behind the murder of Cody Myers, 19 of Oregon a few weeks ago.

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Anderson Cooper 360 Series - Bullying, It Stops Here

It's 2:30AM and I'm watching the Anderson Cooper 360 series on bullying. Although it seems to air at the wrong time for the people who really need to see it,  it's an eye-opening series with co-hosts Kelly Rippa, Dr. Phil, and  Rosalind Wiseman; best-selling author of “Queen Bees and Wannabees.” The series also features several students from the now famous Anoka-Hennepin School District, located in Michele Bachmann's district in Minnesota. Seemingly wise beyond their years, these students came on TV and told their stories of how the "neutrality policy" of this school district has not only places their lives in danger, but also fosters and creates a place where bullies are free to say and do whatever they please to other students, knowing that there are no consequences from the teachers and administration. In one story the very intelligent young man told of going to the bathroom and having another student pee on him from above in a stall. As his fellow student pointed out (he's African American), if the "N" word is used against him,  more happens to make the bully responsible than if he's called gay, faggot, or other demeaning words.

Dr. Phil pointed out that much of the bullying is the responsibility of the parents, further saying that it's not acceptable for teachers, administrators and parents to say that "it didn't happen on school grounds." His philosophy, and mine, is that bullying starts in the home and parents must be made responsible for the actions of their kids. The excuse that "they never said anything to me" doesn't hold water with Dr. Phil, who says that it doesn't make a difference what they don't say, it's the parents job to know what their kids are doing in their rooms, behind locked doors, what they are saying on the FaceBook page (a sponsor of the program) and MySpace pages, and who they are hanging out with and why.

In my very first blog about bullying I said the very same ting. Parents must take responsibility for the actions of their kids, whether they're a bully or being bullied. But this district seems to be one of the exceptions in that parents are almost equally divided in their thought that bullying is/is not an issue. Yet the rate of suicide among teens in this district is the highest in the country in the last few years, resulting in the deaths of more than six teens from bullying. Yet officials, including Bachmann, remain mute and unapproachable about changing the policy of neutrality.

In a short camera clip caught on tape one teacher actually reprimanded a bullied student in front of the bully because he didn't walk away or ignore the bully's taunting. It was a clip that would make anyone mad enough to want to shake that teacher and say, "WAKE UP STUPID," what are you thinking and saying by blaming the bullied kid for being pushed around and called names by others. Neutrality is a dangerous attitude and it must be changed. That's the goal of these segments and hopefully, along with a new program circulating around the internet that asks people to pledge to stop bullying, it will change. But as we know, change comes slow. Meanwhile our kids are dying an emotional, and often physical death while teachers, administrators, parents and politicians stand by and either ignore, or in the case of the Anoka-Hennepin School District, actually encourage bullying.

I encourage each of you to sign the Anti-Bullying Pledge on the internet and join the 73,000 people that have already signed. The pledge is available on this blog 24/7 or go to ac360.com to sign up.

 "Bullying: It Stops Here",  now...not later!

Punching, Burning, Electrocuting And Stabbing Your Gay Son Will Probably Not Make Him Straight / Queerty

From queerty.com is this tragic, but very important article about the theory that homosexuals can be "converted" to straight. This is a true story of torture, emotional and physical abuse fostered on their son by Southern Baptist missionary parents. Samuel Brinton, now a student at KSU, was the unfortunate and sad son of a Bapatist minister who, upon discovering that his son Sam might like boys instead of girls, subjected him to electric shock therapy by sticking needles in his fingers and then shocking him when he was forced to look at gay porn and other inhumane trials.

Sam, an incredible and shining example of the forgiveness that his parents ought to have shown him, has in return tried to repair the relationship with his family. His father has threatened to shoot him if he tries to contact the family or any of his siblings. This is such as sad story revolving around the idea that gays can be "converted" and that being gay is a choice.

Sam has his story here at ImFromDriftwood where he shares his story with many others in celebration of National Coming Out Day.

Jurors Say Brandon McInerney Deserves Leniency Because Larry King was the Bully |Gay News|Gay Blog Towleroad

WTF! Are these jurors on the medicinal (but illegal in the eyes of the Feds) marijuana? McInerney shoots King in the back of the head twice, in class, with all his classmates watching in horror and King is the bully? Where does this stuff come from? Forget that last question...we all know the answer, duh! Homophobic, closet cases with an anti-gay agenda. What was I thinking?

The L.A. Times adds:

One juror, identified only as Lisa S. because she did not want her whole name used, said many jurors came to believe that King was bullying McInerney by making unwanted sexual advances. "This wasn't about him being gay,'' she said. "This was about bullying. There was a ton of evidence that Larry was acting inappropriately with other kids at school, and they didn't do anything to stop him."

As for the new case, she added: "It was overcharged and an abuse of power, and I don't think a new jury will see it any different."

 I for one hope that a new jury will see through all this B***S*** and convict him for the murderer he is. Take out all the gay issues, etc., this was a pre-meditated murder, open and shut!

The 13th Anniversary of Matthew Shephards Murder

Nothing else needs to be said other than, What a Waste of Life !

New Trial for Brandon McInerney for the Cold-Blooded Murder of Gay Classmate

Brandon McInerney                            Lawrence King        

Brandon McInerney, the teenager accused of killing a classmate in California will be re-tried after the original trial failed to produce a verdict. In September the jury in the trial of McInerney failed to reach a verdict, forcing the presiding judge to rule a mistrial. This time the hate-crime charge is being dropped by Chief Deputy District Attorney Mike Frawley to focus the trial on a first-degree murder charge, a special allegation of use of a handgun, and a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait.
 The news of the re-trial comes three years after King was shot twice in the back of the head at his Oxnard high school on 12 February 2008. McInerney, supposedly raised in a violent home, maintained that King made sexual advances towards him. However, McInerney came to school with a gun and shot King twice in the back of the head as fellow classmates watched on. Fairly clear that it was premeditated and thought out.

If convicted of all the new charges, McInerney would face a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison.  A pretrial hearing is scheduled for 21 November.

Video Tribute to Jamey Rodemeyer from Davey Wavy

There's not much that needs to be said that this video doesn't portray about the high rate of suicides in this country as a result of gay bullying.