Jamel Myles is the 9-year-old who committed suicide because of anti-gay bullying. His mother, Leia Pierce explains that she found Jamel dead in her house on Thursday.
Jamel Told Classmates He Was Gay
BBC reports that Jamel attended Joe Shoemaker Elementary School in Denver, Colorado. He started 4th grade on Monday, a few weeks after he told his mom he was gay. Jamel told his mom that he would tell his classmates he was gay because he’s proud of himself.
Pierce says that she found her son dead in her house on Thursday. She believes that he was bullied. Pierce’s daughter says that Jamel’s classmates told him to kill himself.
Jamel’s Mother Wants To Spread Awareness About The Effects Of Bullying
A 9-year-old boy in Colorado committed suicide after he was bullied at school for coming out as gay. 33% of LGBTQ students in the U.S. were bullied at school in 2017:
— AJ+ (@ajplus) August 28, 2018
▪️ 9.4% threatened with a weapon
▪️ 27.1% bullied online
▪️ 10% avoided school over safety concerns
In the video below, Leia Pierce explains that she wants to spread awareness about the negative effects of bullying. She holds both children and parents accountable. Most 4th graders understand that bullying is wrong but parents should be held accountable for failing to teach their kids the importance of respect.
RIP Jamel Myles
Jamel Myles was just 9 years old when he took his own life due to homophobic bullying at school. 9 years old. I can’t imagine the pain a 9 year old must feel to think suicide is the only option. He was still a baby with so much to look forward to & achieve. RIP Jamel. pic.twitter.com/hEA29Hbxk8
— Eleanor Neale (@ELEANORXNEALE) August 28, 2018
Jamel Myles is gone but not forgotten. Twitter users are sharing heartfelt messages about the 9-year-old.
#JamelMyles story breaks my heart. His family did everything I said I’d do if my child was gay — express unwavering love and acceptance. It wasn’t enough. Not being able to protect your kids from outside influence is probably one of the scariest feelings as a parent.
— krissy (@__Krisssyy) August 28, 2018
The tweet above explains that Leia Pierce did everything she could to let Jamel know that she still loved him. Sadly, Leia’s actions weren’t enough. Homophobic bullying must stop. Please teach your kids the difference between right and wrong.
RIP Jamel Myles 🙏🏾
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