On Thursday, September 23, 2010, 13-year old Asher Brown went to his stepfather's closet, took a gun from the shelf, and shot himself in the head. Asher had been the target of repeated and relentless bullying from students at Hamilton Middle School in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. As the Houston Chronicle wrote:
Brown, his family said, was "bullied to death" — picked on for his small size, his religion and because he did not wear designer clothes and shoes. Kids also accused him of being gay, some of them performing mock gay acts on him in his physical education class, his mother and stepfather said.
The 13-year-old's parents said they had complained about the bullying to Hamilton Middle School officials during the past 18 months, but claimed their concerns fell on deaf ears.
According to the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, 84.6 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered students in the U.S. reported being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation in 2009. Additionally, 40.1 percent reported being physically harassed and 18.8 percent reported being physically assaulted at school. Nearly two-thirds of students reported feeling unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation.
State Representative Garnet Coleman has filed the "Dignity for All Students Act" -- which he may rename "Asher's Law" -- since 2003. The bill is designed to put an end to bullying and discrimination based on a person's "ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, religion or national origin." (Source: Texas Tribune). Before Rep. Coleman carried the bill, Rep. Harryette Ehrhardt filed the legislation from 1997-2001. Before her, Austin's own Rep. Glen Maxey carried similar anti-discrimination legislation that was not specific to schools but did raise awareness about the issue.
On Tuesday, another brave voice lent their name to the fight to end discrimination among gay teens. Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns gave one of the most inspirational speeches I have ever seen. I thank my friends for sending it along to me, and I in turn wanted to share it with you and hope you will share it with others.
To take action and learn how you can help or where you can send a friend or family member for help themselves, I'd recommend contacting the Anti-Defamation League in Houston or here in Austin. Another great group is Atticus Circle, also here in Austin. If anyone wants to share the names/numbers of other good groups that can be a useful contact, please share in the comments or e-mail me at phillip@burntorangereport.com.
