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Jamel Myles: Quick Facts About 9-Year-Old Boy Who Killed Himself After Being Bullied for Coming Out as Gay to Classmates

08 29 18'

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A 9-year-old boy died by suicide after he was bulled just days after he came out as gay to his classmates.

Jamel Myles had just started fourth grade at Joe Shoemaker School in Colorado when he died the night of Thursday, August 23rd, just three days after school came back in session following the summer break. He was rushed to the hospital after he was found hanging in his bedroom, according to the county coroner.

Jamel’s mother, Peia Pierce, told the Denver Post that her older daughter told her that Myles’ classmates had told him to kill himself over his coming out. She said she had never heard about the bullying from his classmates until after his death.

Here’s what you need to know about Jamel Myles:

Jamel Myles’ mother says she told her son “I still love you” after he came out to her this past summer. She believes his death was the result of bullying after coming out to his classmates on the first day of school.

Jamel’s mother, Leia Pierce, told Denver’s KDVR that her son had come out to her over the summer. Pierce told the station “he looked so scared when he told me. He was like, ‘Mom I’m gay,’ and I thought he was playing, so I looked back because I was driving, and he was all curled up, so scared. And I said, ‘I still love you.'”

Pierce said Jamel wanted to wear fake fingernails on the first day of school, and she believes that his classmates bullied him after he came out to them. “The same kids who picked on him last year were even meaner to him once he came out and said he was gay,” she told HLN. “They hurt my baby.”

Jamel wanted to become a YouTube star one day, Pierce told the Denver Post: “He said, ‘Mom, I want to be famous YouTube star so I could buy you a new house.”

Pierce added: “My child died because of bullying. My baby killed himself. He didn’t deserve this. He wanted to make everybody happy even when he wasn’t. I want him back so bad.”

Jamel’s interests included Pokemon and wearing a dress with a tiara and high-heeled shoes, his mother said.

Jamel’s mother says she found him hanging in his bedroom. She said she “lost a reason to breathe” after losing her son to suicide.

Leia Pierce said her son was excited about coming out and wanted to tell his classmates. “He went to school and said he was gonna tell people he’s gay because he’s proud of himself,” she said.

Pierce said when he came out to her, he opened up about wanting to dress more femininely. “And he goes, ‘Can I be honest with you?'” she said. “And I was like sure, and he’s like, ‘I know you buy me boy stuff because I’m a boy, but I’d rather dress like a girl.'”

On Thursday, August 23rd, four days into the school year, Pierce found her son hanging in his bedroom. She desperately tried to revive him but it was too late.

“Four days is all it took at school. I could just imagine what they said to him,” Pierce said. “My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself. I’m just sad he didn’t come to me. I’m so upset that he thought that was his option.”

Pierce wrote on her Facebook page:

“I lost a reason to breathe… my heart, my sunshine, my son… he was being bullied and i didnt know. Not till it was to late.. i wish i knew everything so i could’ve stopped this… how do i live with out all my kids? My son man he is the best and i miss and just want to be with him… he is in heave now and im not ready for this.. i shouldn’t be having to bury my son he is only 9… i love u son i love u so much son…. stop bullying stop the shit i lost my baby cause of it and its not fair not fair not fair… i just want my son back..”

She wrote in another post:

“They say be strong for my daughters but, i cant i just cant.. i couldn’t imagine losing any of my kids and i lost 1 and now my kid is alone and i want to be with him.. i cant let him be alone.. i love u son..”

She said in another post on her page:

“What hurts the most about losing my son. Is knowing other kids feel the same way he did.. I wish i could’ve carried my sons pain for him cause i would… i want bullying to stop.. no child and i mean no child should be bullied by anyone.. matter of fact no one should be a bully at any age.. love more and hate less.. I’ve been very irrational these past couple days.. i dont know how to handle this pain.. i shouldnt of said some of them mean things i did but, my heart is in so much pain… i never wanted to feel this pain and i am.. i want justice for my son and every kid who is bullied.. i want bullying to end i never want to hear someone else go thru this pain…”

The principal at Myles’ school said the school is working to make sure “LGBTQ+ students can pursue their education with dignity.”

Joe Shoemaker Principal Christine Fleming told parents in a letter after Jamel’s suicide: “It is with extreme sadness we share with you that one of our fourth-grade students passed away yesterday. This is an unexpected loss for our community… Our thoughts are with the student’s family at this time. We will continue to process this sad news as a school community, and again, please feel free to reach out as needed for ongoing support…

“It is critical that our students receive all the support they need to learn and thrive in a safe and welcoming environment. Our formal policies and practices reflect this commitment to ensuring that our LGBTQ+ students can pursue their education with dignity – from policies and training to prevent and stop bullying to formal policies and guidance materials that fully respect gender identity (including use of preferred pronouns and restrooms).”

Will Jones, a spokesman for Denver Public School told the Denver Post that Joe Shoemaker Elementary School had a team of crisis counselors on hand to speak with students, teachers, school staff and anyone else who is hurting.

“It’s always tough when a little one takes his life, “Jones said. “We have our crisis team there. Fourth and fifth grade teachers at Shoemaker are creating a space for students to share how they are feeling and to process their emotions after hearing this news. Teachers are also letting students know about the DPS crisis team members on hand to meet their social-emotional needs.”

Jamel’s suicide has sparked outrage on social media and quickly became a topic of discussion, shedding light on LGBTQ+ kids, bullying, and mental health.

After the news of Jamel Myles’ suicide spread all over the world, outraged people took to social media to express their anger.

“Never let anyone tell us the fight for equality is over,” said Michael Cashman, an actor, writer, and politician from London. “A nine-year-old boy has killed himself after enduring four days of homophobic bullying at school in Denver, Colorado.
Leia Pierce said her son Jamel Myles, revealed to her over the summer that he was gay, and was ‘proud.'”

Twitter user @SeyvonSilva wrote: “This is f***ing heart breaking. My dude was excited to share who he was. He was 9 years old and confident in himself, but others felt the need to bring him down. This is not okay. You’re a star. Rest easy Jamel Myles, remember his name.”

Actor, producer and tv/film/theatre director Emerson Collins tweeted: “Jamel Myles was nine. This is why we fight for The Equality Act, against conversion therapy, against bigoted “deeply held religious beliefs,” for representation, visibilty and have PRIDES – to change the entire culture LGBTQ youth grow up and come out in.”

See other poignant social media responses below:

The tragedy of Myles’ story also inspired an unsurprisingly hateful response from the always awful Westboro Baptist Church:

Celebrities including singer Kehlani, transgender actress Laverne Cox, and more have taken to social media to mourn the loss of Jamel Myles.

A number of celebrities, including actors, musicians, and other media figures, have taken to social media to mourn the death of Jamel Myles. Singer Kehlani, transgender actress Laverne Cox, Canadian actress Ellen Page, and Pose executive producer Steven Canals expressed their grief, while also calling for more acceptance and tolerance.

“Jamel Myles’ confidence, pride, and eagerness to share his new found freedom with his parents and then classmates at 9 years old is beautiful and hope that is the memory celebrated continuously,” Kehlani shared on Twitter. “Rest in peace little warrior. The lessons here are clear.”

Laverne Cox tweeted: “This has to stop happening. It must stop. Our bullying culture is killing children. #JamelMyles”

Ellen Page said the news about Jamel Myles was heartbreaking. “I have traveled around the country and the world and have been witness to hope and joy but also deep pain and horror,” she said. “This needs to change. I’m sad and angry but trying to keep my heart warm and open to continue to strive to help eradicate this suffering.”

New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow tweeted that he was “so sick of this,” in regards to kids taking their own lives as a result of bullying.

“This BREAKS MY HEART,” tweeted singer Hayley Kiyoko. “People need to understand the power of their words. Wow. I’m so sorry for him and his family.”

Steven Canals, executive producer of the hit FX series Pose, shared a story about the first time he was called gay. “1989. 4th grade. 9 yrs old. First time a fellow male classmate shamed me by saying ‘stop being so gay,'” he tweeted. “I didn’t know who I was then. Jamel did. He was gay. And he was proud, until he wasn’t. My heart aches. #JamelMyles”

Ryan Jamaal Swain, an actor who stars on FX’s Pose, tweeted: “THIS HAS TO STOP FOLKS!!!!!!”

Jamel Myles: Quick Facts About 9-Year-Old Boy Who Killed Himself After Being Bullied for Coming Out as Gay to Classmates is a post from: Gossip On This - Pop Culture, News, Videos & Humor

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