Gay 13-Year-Old, Bullied to Death in California

Tragic. Heartbreaking. Sorrowful. Just three adjectives that can be used to describe the 2010-2011 school year. On the heels of recent news that a Houston teenager took his own life because of anti-gay bullying he faced in school, comes word that a 13-year-old California student has died after a suicide attempt. Why did this student, Seth Walsh, commit suicide?

Because he was tormented relentlessly by bullies over his perceived sexual orientation.

KGET.com notes in their story that Walsh attempted suicide last week after sustained bullying, by hanging himself from a tree. He was found unconscious, and rushed to a hospital via helicopter. He remained on life support until last night, when doctors pronounced him dead.

Another example of the tragic consequences of bullying realized. And that's something that those who picked on Seth Walsh now have to live with for the rest of their lives.

"Several of the kids that we talked to broke down into tears," Jeff Kermode, Tehachapi Police Chief, said. "They had never expected an outcome such as this."

Somehow it seems like that sentiment ought to be put on every blackboard in every classroom in the entire country. Bullying kids because of their real or perceived sexual orientation has dire consequences. Seth Walsh. Justin Aaberg. Asher Brown. Billy Lucas.

How many more students have to die this year -- just weeks into the 2010-2011 school year at that -- before the epidemic of anti-gay bullying in this country gets addressed by school administrators, politicians, parents, and students?

The Walsh family for their part has asked for privacy during what can only be one of the most difficult times imaginable. There will be a memorial service for Seth Walsh on Friday.

Meanwhile, many states away, a school board meeting was taking place in Minnesota to address the subject of anti-gay bullying, and how it leads to suicide. Speaking at the school board was Tammy Aaberg, the mother of Justin Aaberg, who took his own life this summer because of rampant anti-gay bullying from his classmates in the Anoka-Hennepin school district (the state's largest). Tammy took the school district to task for having a policy, known as the "neutrality" policy, that ties teachers' hands when it comes to talking about LGBT issues. She blamed the "neutrality" policy for fostering a climate in the school district where suicide among LGBT teens has thrived, citing the experience her son faced, where he was bullied and harassed in plain view of teachers and school officials.

“I was aware of one incident, but I had no idea how horrible it was and I’m learning that this harassment happened in the company of teachers,” she said Monday. “I want Justin’s legacy to be that he’s the last gay child to take his life because of bullying. To ensure that what happened to my son doesn’t happen to other students in Anoka-Hennepin and elsewhere, is why I’m here today.”

What is it going to take to stop LGBT suicide in school districts from California to Minnesota and beyond?

Congress could help. They could take action on the Safe Schools Improvement Act, or the Student Nondiscrimination Act. Both are bills intended to help address the rampant bullying that students face in schools, and would work to make schools truly safe spaces for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Sen. Al Franken, the cosponsor of the Student Nondiscrimination Act, sent a letter to administrators in Anoka-Hennepin, urging them to immediately address the epidemic of suicide within their district.

“Anoka-Hennepin has witnessed too many tragedies this year. We need to do more to protect our children from bullying. It’s time we extend civil rights to LGBT students.”

Agree? Send Congress a message that no student should be bullied to death because of their sexual orientation.

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