Brutal Assault of Gay High School Student by Bully Caught on Camera

SUSPENDED FOR THREE DAYS! This kid gets away with a hate crime and gets 3 days off. This kid's name needs to be exposed, he needs to be arrested,he should be kicked out of school,something more than just this. Makes me sick!

http://www.towleroad.com/2011/10/ohiobully.html

---

As much as I detest seeing these stories, I have to say I'm thrilled that these stories are getting so much exposure. Beating up a gay student was something we simply had to live with and endure. Now, people are starting to recognize it for the bigoted terrorism it really is.

---

It already made local television news and the story is already starting to spread across several blogs.

Educators and faculty need to start doing more. This keeps occurring because the kids are not really punished for their hate crimes.

I agree, which is why I'm thrilled there has been ANY exposure at all. When a media outlet reports the story, it's starting to show a message of intolerance for this behavior. Otherwise, it NEVER would have been aired. The more stories that get surfaced and receive attention, the more the media will acknowledge the events and raise awareness. Long before Matthew Shepard, there was Paul Broussard. Not many have heard of him, but his death was briefly considered newsworthy. Before Paul, there was a personal friend of mine murdered outside a Dallas bar in a gay-bashing incident. It was briefly recorded in the newspaper as a "shooting". No other word on the subject. For a high school bully beating up a gay boy to make it on the news is HUGE. And it's a sign that we're moving in the right direction and at a more rapid pace. I do hope that people become more vocal about this particular case, but even moreso, I'm ELATED that this issue has truly started getting the attention of the country.

---

I hope this boy is sent to jail for assault. That Mother is doing the right thing by pursuing legal action. I'm sure the bully's parents will be on tv this week saying how their son is really a good boy and was simply defending himself from the other boys sexual advances.

I just sent the link to the people over at The view
here's hoping Joy or Whoopi bring it up.

---

I don't care if he is a minor, I want the kids name and identity revealed. I wish the school superintendent would kick him out of the school. Not temporary but for good. I bet if the student was kicked out permanently,his name revealed,charges brought on him as an adult, have the kid arrested,mug shot taken,lawsuit against the kid and his family, parents investigated by the police and state,and court costs and fines,other kids might just might think twice before doing something like this. An example needs to be made. What would have happened if this kid suffered brain damage? What would have happened if he died? Would the bully still get only 3 days suspension? I'd like to start a Campaign where we can email the school and add pressure to the principal and faculty.

Some might think this is extreme but kids like this victim are taking their own lives because of scum bags like this coward.

---

Updated On: 10/27/11 at 03:12 PM

OK folks, keep the emails civil and to the point. I plan on asking if 3 days suspension is the ONLY steps the school is taking?

Email Superintendent: Dwight Garrett at dgarrett@mail.gsn.k12.oh.us

http://www.unioto.k12.oh.us/administration.htm

I just emailed this information to Joe.My.God and Towleroad. Will try and send it to a few more blogs but I encourage people to pass this contact info along to your friends.The more emails and complaints the better.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Union-Scioto-Local-School-District/280096705050?ref=ts

http://twitter.com/#!/uniotoschools

---

Updated On: 10/27/11 at 03:32 PM

And NOM,Maggie Gallagher,Tony Perkins, Bryan Fischer,etc.will all call the bully the real victim here. Practicing hate is freedom of speech to them.It's in the Constitution they'll say.The Religious right and other hate groups will spin this to their advantage as they always do.

---

The real question is will the media CONTINUE to report on it? If the Bully speaks out and gives a lame excuse,yes,the media will play that up. If the ACLU gets involved,if the School reacts over pressure from other students and GLBT Groups,then yes, I think the story will be talked about. The problem is SO MANY stories like this are making the news,we have to make sure this does not get buried. Yesterday a Teacher posted on his Facebook something about 13-15 more gay students have to die before anything will happen. Last week a Principal in Tennessee attacked a gay student over a shirt. The there was the New Jersey teacher who posted on her Facebook some anti gay comments. The media can not report on all of the stories and this has just been in the past week.

Email the school. Make them release a statement on the issue. Contact other blogs and keep the story alive.I agree, so far I am pleased that the media has grabbed the story and is reporting it. Without the video it would have been just another story about a kid in school getting bullied. However, the bully in the video spews anti gay slurs,he posted anti gay comments on his Facebook page just a day before,he has a history of bullying and harassing this kid in the past.All of that should work against this kid and I am almost certain the bully is going to play the victim card. They always do.Anyone remember this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJMw7Y7ua9I

The bully claimed it was the big kid he was picking on who was the real bully,despite the video and evidence. I hope Ellen and Piers Morgan and the ladies on the View and The Talk all talk about this story.

---

Oh so he attacked him because he has a mental illness. That makes perfect sense.

I just signed into Yahoo, and the mothers story was the lead video that popped up.

The story is getting out there.

---

That's what it seems like, Romantico. Not to speak for all schools, but the one's I've worked for seem to have an "if you can't prove it, it didn't happen" policy in place for bullying. Even then, with enough spin from the aggressor, a temporary suspension or detention could be all that comes from it. I've seen students knocked out in fights because of their sexual orientation, reported the incidents to the principal's office for disciplinary action, and been informed at a later date that ambulance records and testimony from a paid school employee isn't enough to punish a bully. I now tell students being bullied to draw as much attention as possible to any attacks--physical or verbal--to force teachers and staff (plural) to witness the attack.

Thankfully, this case has visual evidence that contradicts the spin from the bully. The school's "but gay students have no special treatment" spin is absurd. A kid has a concussion and a broken tooth. We should all count ourselves lucky that the victim here didn't get an equal suspension for "fighting." That's a common tactic, too. Upgrade the victim to an accomplice by saying "both students suspended x days for fighting."

^^NJ schools send home a pamphlet now. Teachers and any hired staff in contact with students have to undergo two hours of mandatory training on the new bullying laws.