Earlier this week, a Colorado mother shared the story of her son, 9-year-old Jamel Myles, who committed suicide after being bullied for coming out as gay.
His mom, Leia Pierce, shared the story with Denver's Fox affiliate. Jamal came out to her this summer, saying that he was gay and that he wanted to dress more femininely. While Pearce was loving and supportive, his fourth-grade class was not. Less than a week after he'd been back in school, she came home to find her son dead.
"Four days is all it took at school," said Pierce. "I could just imagine what they said to him. 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."
The tragic story received national attention and went viral, so much so that even celebrities are mourning for Jamal Myles:
\u201cThe news re #JamelMyles broke my heart.I have traveled around the country & the world & have been witness 2 hope & joy but also deep pain & horror.This needs to change.I\u2019m sad & angry but trying 2 keep my heart warm & open 2 continue 2 strive 2 help eradicate this suffering. \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Elliot Page (@Elliot Page) 1535471766
\u201cThis has to stop happening. It just must stop. Our bullying culture is killing children. #JamelMyles \n\n"A 9-year-old boy died by suicide after being bullied for coming out as gay" https://t.co/BlrS7BqBxK\u201d— Laverne Cox (@Laverne Cox) 1535467860
\u201cThis BREAKS MY HEART. People need to understand the power of their words. Wow. I\u2019m so sorry for him and his family.\u201d— Hayley Kiyoko (@Hayley Kiyoko) 1535470313
\u201c1989. 4th grade. 9 yrs old. First time a fellow male classmate shamed me by saying \u201cstop being so gay.\u201d I didn\u2019t know who I was then. Jamel did. He was gay. And he was proud, until he wasn\u2019t. My heart aches. #JamelMyles\u201d— Steven Canals (@Steven Canals) 1535469162
If you are a trans or gender-nonconforming person considering suicide, Trans Lifeline can be reached at (877) 565-8860. LGBTQ youth (ages 24 and younger) can reach the Trevor Project Lifeline at (866) 488-7386. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 can also be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities.
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