Friday, July 15, 2011

Parents of Suicide Victims Join The Evangelical Network to Call for Tougher Bullying Legislation



Teenage bullying and suicide was put in the spotlight at the conference of The Evangelical Network. Calling for stronger anti-bullying laws, including the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-discrimination Act, The Evangelical Network presented stories and facts surrounding teenage bullying. Those who shared gave powerful witness to the pervasiveness of bullying and the lack of coordinated effort to prevent bullying in schools.
Amy and David Truong, the parents of Asher Brown, of Cypress, Texas, shared the harassment that their son endured up until his death on September 23, 2010. Standing in front of a photo of Asher, David Truong described what made bullies pick on Asher. “Our son was bullied for being too small, having big ears, having a lisp, for being perceived gay, for having different religious beliefs, not wearing the latest fashion or carrying the newest fancy phone. Anything one can be picked on for, Asher was.” Amy Truong talked about her difficulty in getting the school to take the bullying seriously. “This tragedy never should have taken place -we want to ensure other families NEVER have to go through same sorrow and loss like us and other parents who lost children due to a culture that breeds and nurtures such violent and hurtful behavior.”
The news conference was held on the one-year anniversary of the suicide death of Justin Aaberg, a teenager from Anover, Minnesota. Justin’s mother, Tammy Aaberg, prepared a statement, “Over time, I learned more about what happened to Justin in school and things that happen to other students who were lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or perceived as such.  I found out Justin was the 5th kid to die by suicide in the school district in the past 8 months and that 3 of them were gay related in some way. “ She now describes her work as a calling, “Since Justin died a year ago, my life has been consumed fighting bullying and harassment in schools and trying to change laws, not just in my son’s school district but in school districts around the country.”
 College student, AJ Guerrero, shared her experience being bullied in school and how her involvement in the Texas Gay Straight Alliance Network helped her to overcome her experiences of bullying. “My fear of being outed as a lesbian resulted in my grades dropping dramatically, lack of social contact, and the paranoia of the question "who knows about this?" After two years, I was invited to the Texas Gay Straight Alliance Network's Youth Activist Camp. The Youth Activist Camp made me realize that I had the potential of being a youth leader who can change the world.” AJ is now a college intern with the Texas Gay Straight Alliance Network.
Teacher Mel Schmidt, Manor Independent School District, Manor, TX discussed what steps families, communities, schools, and society can take to curb bullying. “Because most bullying occurs in schools; families and communities need to insist that training for both staff and students be implemented, awareness weeks observed, safe havens for the targets of bullies created, ongoing curricula that deals with the problem and support student efforts to address anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender bullying and harassment on campus, such as the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance or participation in events such as the National Day of Silence and Ally Week. The Asher Brown Anti-bullying Bill, here in Texas, is a step in the right direction.  However, it must be implemented, encouraged and enforced.”
Todd Ferrell, President of The Evangelical Network, reached out to Christians and especially evangelical Christians to stand against bullying and support stronger Federal Laws to protect all youth. “As an Evangelical Christian my faith requires that I care and stand up for our society’s most marginalized and vulnerable people, whether “the poor, the orphan, the stranger or the widow”. lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender youth are some of the nation’s most vulnerable students and I call on evangelical leaders across Texas & the nation to make sure that they are protected in school and given the chance to reach their full potential. A core value of our evangelical roots is to love your neighbor as yourself, and in doing so, we live out that love by treating one another as we wish to be treated. It is deeply troubling to see this golden rule violated so brazenly on the playground in the classrooms and on social networking sites. As community leaders, role-models and religious leaders, we ask you to join us in taking a stand against bullying; together we must instill our youth the value of love and mutual respect.  Contact your U.S. House Members and Senators.  Ask them to pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-discrimination Act. Bullying is not a Christian Value.”

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