Research Blog 3

Stump, Scott. "Teen’s Parents: After Suicide, He’s Still Being Bullied - TODAY People - TODAY.com."

                Today. TODAY.com: Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales - TODAY Show Video,

News, Recipes, Health, Pets. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44684938/ns/today-today_people/t/gay-teens-parents-bullying-continued-after-his-suicide?GT1=43001>.

In Scott Stumps article, “Teen’s Parents: After Suicide, He’s Still Being Bullied”, he explains that 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer, who committed suicide on Sept. 18^th, is still being bullied. Jamey posted videos online about being bullied and harassed for being gay and also contributed to the “It Gets Better Project”, which aims to support gay and lesbian teens who are discriminated and harassed. Jamey would openly talk to his parents about being bullied in middle school and then “became more withdrawn about it” when he entered high school. All Jamey wanted was to be heard and to have someone listen. In one of his last online posts Jamey said, “I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens. What do I have to do so that people will listen to me?’’ Jamey made a shirt for Lady Gaga reading, “It Gets Better”, and after his death Gaga dedicated a song to him at a concert stating,” “Let’s do this one for Jamey,’’ and later adding, “Jamey, I know you’re up there looking at us. You’re not a victim.’’ After Jamey committed suicide, the bullying wasn’t over. Jamey’s sister attended a dance when a Lady Gaga song came on and Jamey’ friends started chanting for him and the bullies that harassed him started chanting, “You’re better off dead!” and, “We’re glad you’re dead.” Jamey’s father, Tim, stated in the interview, “I don’t know why anyone would do that. They have no heart, that’s basically what it comes down to.” Jamey’s suicide captured Ricky Martin’s attention as he tweeted, “How many lives do we have to lose to finally stop the harassment, hatred, the bigotry and the abuse?’’  Police are now investigating if Jamey was a victim of harassment and bullying which lead to his suicide. Jamey’s father stated, “If you believe in homosexuality is right or wrong, that’s your right as an American, but it’s no reason to bully someone and hate them.” Jamey’s parents want to carry on Jamey’s message and get across to others that bullying is a serious subject.

In this article, many disturbing comments were made about Jamey and who he was as a person. The students that bullied and harassed him even after his death really shows how heartless they are just as, Tim, Jamey’s father said. Those students were stereotyping him for being gay, which I do believe lead to his suicide. The police that are investigating if the harassment had anything to do with Jamey’s suicide is shocking to me. In my opinion, it is obvious that it had something to do with Jamey’s suicide. From this article, I also learned about “It Gets Better Project”. I didn’t know this group was around, and I think it is great what they are doing for teens.

I chose this article due to the mass amounts of bullying to Jamey, both alive and dead. It really captured my attention to read that even after students went as far as making someone’s life so bad that they commit suicide, the don’t even stop after he has passed. I would like to keep reading up on acts of bullying and stereotyping. From this article I learned about the “It Gets Better Project”, and hope to learn about more programs that deal with bullying and stereotyping.