Jamey Rodemeyer, 14-Year-Old Boy, Commits Suicide After Gay Bullying, Parents Carry On Message (VIDEO)

Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old boy from Williamsville, NY, took his life Sunday after what his parents claim was years of bullying because of struggles with his sexuality.

His parents, Tracy and Tim Rodemeyer, say that Jamey faced bullies for years, though things intensified in middle school, according to NBC 2. Jamey recently became a freshman at Williamsville North High School.

In the wake of their loss, the Rodemeyers hope to carry on a message of anti-bullying and acceptance. "To the kids who are bullying they have to realize that words are very powerful and what you think is just fun and games isn't to some people, and you are destroying a lot of lives," Jamey's father told WIVB.

Tracy Rodemeyer misses her son, but hopes the loss can still be used to teach a message of tolerance. "It took him away from our family way too early and we're just convinced that he had a purpose on this planet and it was to touch as many people as he could," she told NBC 2.

According to NBC, the Rodemeyers had gone to the school about the problem in the past. Jamey even sought counseling to learn to deal with the problem, but it seems it wasn't enough.

While they say their son seemed happy in the days leading up to the tragedy, his "It Gets Better" YouTube posting from May includes details about how intense the bullying was.

Through it all, Jamey remained outwardly optimistic. “That's all you have to do. Just love yourself and you're set. And I promise you, it'll get better,” he said in the video, which you can see in full below.

Gay bullying has been gaining increasing attention in the media, as a number of tragedies has brought the issue into the spotlight. Earlier this month the California State Senate passed "Seth's Law" a measure designed to curb anti-gay bullying in schools.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or visit stopbullying.gov.

Jamey's YouTube Posting:

Comments

[Erica Lamothe]

02:45 PM on 10/17/2011

Maybe it all about how you were raised. I remember as a child I was always bullied, hell I was jumped more than once, but I went down swinging. My family basically raised me to be tough. My older brother would wrestle with me, and he was 10 years older than me. My sister and cousins would mock me worse than any kid at school could.You didn't cry either, because it would only get worse. I was mad, until I went to school, and realized why they did it. I was mocked, got into to fights, picked on for being short and silent. It didn't get to me, and they never saw me cry. Because, it didn't hurt, if I stayed overly sensitive my school years would have been much worse. I'm stronger now, because of my family. Crazy as it may sound.

[Jeffery Wells]

02:36 PM on 10/14/2011

The people that take this story and chop it up need a reality check. They sound like the politicians running for office in this country today. Let's not solve the problem lets just point fingers. A 14 year old took his life. The other day a teenager that had a disability took his. Before that it was something differnt that made a child think that they couldn't deal with life. I think the reason is clear, after seeing a child with a disability in a school system do this. I don't think the people around these children, the adults, want to get involved. They spend their life pretending not to see. And as they do this the future of this country falls a little further in the hole. But hey, all that chop this up theroy that those do, they have learned real well from their teacher. They listen and worship them every day. The politician. Instead of the other way around. The first step to solving this and other issues is stop talking about it and do something about it. Looking in the mirror is a start. Everyone that knew these children should. It could be yours next. :)

[Ronald Scheraga]

07:38 AM on 10/14/2011

The sadness I, and I hope others, feel is inexpressible and excruciating. Why should any parent have to bear such hurt? Most importantly, why should this little boy have had to bear such injury?
Every school bully has a parent who has a responsibility not only to teach tolerance, but how to practice it. You don't make fun of anyone because of their race, their religion, their physical or mental disability, or, as here, their possible sexual orientation. Now how hard a lesson is that?
And just because everyone else does it, doesn't mean you can't be better, you can't be stronger, you can't be smarter than they are. Is it so hard for a parent to teach his child that protecting someone from being bullied is much harder, but much better, than being a bully...which is both too easy and too stupid?
It is worth repeating: No parent should have to bear such a hurt and no child should have to bear such an injury,
Please.

[UomoItaliano BoyMan]

10:47 AM on 10/10/2011

Rest in peace little angel. I hope that people, who have done this to you, have learned the lesson and want to teach their children in the future, the importance of tolerance and how much can be dangerous to speak without knowing.
If they do not, they will be as murderers, without repentance.

[Fatema Saber]

03:25 AM on 10/06/2011

Such a beautiful boy with such a beautiful soul. This is so sad.

[mikecampiani]

01:01 AM on 10/04/2011

Each time I hear about anyone, especially a teenager, whose life becomes so unbearable, so devoid of hope, that they feel there is no choice but to end it, I feel sad and get angry. This sadness however is usually short lived as it is tragically becoming a regular part of the news cycle.

Something said about Jamey Rodemeyer has really stuck with me and I can't seem to shake it. An 8th grader at Jamey's school said 'He made friends of the friendless.'

I think of all the religious based organizations who have poured millions into trying to stop same sex marriage. All the people in the name of the bible trying belittle, criticize and assault those different than themselves. Then I think of this 14 year old, making friends of the friendless. If there was ever a behavior that so closely mirrored that of Jesus it would have been the way in which this 14 year old gay youth interacted with others. The irony is f*****g mind boggling, wouldn't you say?

[Ronald Scheraga]

07:40 AM on 10/14/2011

Beautifully said.

[sue1mar3]

05:27 PM on 10/16/2011

"In separateness lies the world's great misery, in compassion lies the world's true strength." -Buddha Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if everyone felt that way?

[JJones PhD]

03:52 PM on 10/02/2011

Hi Everyone,
It troubles me greatly that this has happened again. I wanted to share a few resources for individuals and schools who are facing these problems. I am a college professor at Radford University, and my research addresses homophobia and bullying in schools. I constructed a free online professional development www.makingsafeplacesunsafe.com It is just one step in helping create safe places for all students. Please check it out and pass it on to all of your teacher and administrator friends. Also, I have produced a free documentary that addresses this challenge. If you are interested in using the documentary, the website or if you have questions, please email me at [e-mail]. This problem has to be addressed at all levels of education. We must begin making schools safe for all students so that this never happens again. My heart goes out to all of the families and students who have been treated this way.

Best,
Joseph

[Notsosurearewe]

07:20 PM on 10/11/2011

I agree with what you are doing, but your site needs a little tweaking. The ability to make responses is good, as are a few pictures, a couple of places for research and a few links across the web.

Regards,
Me

[Jo Lynn]

07:27 AM on 10/02/2011

The book, The Promise of Friendship by Jo Evans Lynn, was written for all the Jamey Rodemeyers, Jaheem Herreras, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoovers, Megan Meiers, and Craig Wilsons who all had three things in common: they were different, they were bullied, and they committed suicide. I wrote the book directly from my childhood and from my 37 years of observing my students. I noted that the ages 11-15 seem to be the most difficult for children who are different. I suspect that this is because not only is this when they begin to realize the extent to which they are different but also because it is when the most significant others in their lives-other children- lack the maturity and understanding to accept the differences in others. It does not matter in what way they are different- whether it’s because of their budding sexuality, economic situation, social status, physicality (too fat, too thin, too tall, not pretty, big ears, etc.) or because they are smarter or less bright than other children- any child who is different is subject to bullying. Please, if you know a Kenny, a Josephine, or a Janie give him or her the book and then encourage their teacher(s) to read the book and discuss it with their students. Perhaps the book will give them enough hope to make it through the most difficult period of their lives: pre-adolescence-adolescence.

[thiago rocha]

09:29 AM on 10/01/2011

Jesus Christ died not only for Christians.
Jesus Christ died for all mankind.
Whoever comes to me in any way cast out.
Jesus accepts us as we are.
And nobody chooses to be homosexual.
People are simply born that way.
Each an every respect differences as Jesus was able to respect and love every human being.
Even those who persecuted Him
God has not given the right to judge nor condemn anyone.
That power belongs only to him and to anyone else.
But remember that He gave us an obligation.
We must love others as we love ourselves.
I'm Brazilian. Here in my country we are learning that God's love extends to everyone.
We are not hypocrites, we know that homosexuality is a sin
But we also learn that Jesus is our advocate who intercedes for us
And forgive us simply because He loves us.
He loves the whites, blacks, homosexuals, Catholics, Christians.
He loves everyone.
And perhaps we are greater than God to have the right to hate someone when in fact He commands us to do the opposite?
Love the Lord your God above all things
Love your neighbor as yourself.
We have to relearn what love is.
-------------------------

[Rozanna]

12:42 PM on 10/01/2011

Well meant comment, I am sure. But homosexuality is not a sin. If that is who God made you, how can it be a sin?

[Asmodean1]

01:32 PM on 10/01/2011

I can't prove or disprove your deity is real - Anymore than you can prove your God is real. Why? Because you can not prove or disprove a *thought* based on an ancient text giving you the/a *feeling* it is true - based on not one single fact recorded in human history. None. Not everyone believes in christianity. Why should people not of your faith suffer because of it?

[sue1mar3]

05:35 PM on 10/16/2011

I agree. I have nothing against people who follow a religion but I have never seen any proof that these gods exist. If a god that wants you to worship him exists, why doesn't he make his presence known in everyday life? Why wouldn't it be written across the sky very plainly? Why have only a select few "seen" or "talked" with him? Why are there thousands of different religions? How can one group claim to be the sole possessors of "the truth"? Where do dinosaurs fit into creation? Etc.

[LowDensityPoly]

01:57 AM on 10/01/2011

How many millions on this planet are going to spend today locked in a desperate struggle to survive?

How many billions have already died after lives of unimaginable suffering?

And I'm supposed to pity someone who hit the goddamn lottery and was born into a brief sliver of time and place in human history where the worst he could say was THEY CALLED ME NAMES???

Gay straight or indifferent there was far far tougher shit waiting for this kid down the road. Clearly he wouldn't have been able to hack that either

[dav0001]

09:07 PM on 10/09/2011

No, you're not supposed to do or feel anything you don't want to. However I have the same option. My feeling is that you're pitiful and I'd much rather that nice boy lived and you took his place.

[Ronald Scheraga]

07:56 AM on 10/14/2011

I am in awe of your ability to see into the future. It is not everyone who would know what this boy might have become...but you apparently do.
The one word you used really struck a chord: hack.
Bullying destroys ability. It destroys character. It destroys confidence
Would it have been more obvious to you if this boy's classmates had hacked off his legs? In your world, you would say, "So what! Walk anyway!"
You didn't not mention which of the millions or billions You would feel pity for. Would to be those who have malaria? Your answer: "No, let them get nets for their beds!" How about the starving in Somalia? "They can always eat dirt!" The tortured in Iran? "They were so dumb, they got caught!"
Since being called names doesn't bother you, let me call you one - knowing it will have no effect on you whatever. Were I able to pin a label on you (with a real pin of course), it would read, "I am an IGNORAMUS". Of course, people seeing you might laugh in your face, but you wouldn't care. You are too strong for that. You see into the future.

[jm26dream]

08:20 PM on 09/29/2011

Christians hate the disabled too: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/09/29/mitchell-wilson-suicide-disabled-bullying_n_987070.html

[Toutlaguerre]

03:56 PM on 09/29/2011

I commented last week on an article that was accusing the religious tenets of christianity of being responsible for the bullying and subsequent suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer. Huff never posted it but the recent suicide of the sweet disabled boy Mitchell Wilson proves my point that bullying is not a "gay" issue but a "being different" issue. I maintain that this global problem needs urgent attention. Both victims and bullies need help. Bullies cannot continue to harass the Jameys and Mitchells of this world because they are different. The articles should now read..bully disciplined or expelled for harassment. Being bullied is a worldwide problem. I fought back from day one so it never got anywhere but maybe the experts can offer a solution to this severe problem before its too late, since violence is never the answer.

[sue1mar3]

05:55 PM on 10/16/2011

I did not read the article you mentioned. But I too, seriously doubt it that most bullies are championing the Bible. Do they really think a 7th grade boy who wants to show off in front of his friends and finds an easy target gives a damn about the Bible? Bullies almost always act due to their own low self-esteem and craving of approval from friends. Unless, a person is born into a family of neo-Nazi, KKK members, it is not likely his actions were affected by family or Bible that much.

[Hermes Mercury]

09:00 AM on 10/17/2011

Bullying is always wrong. That is simple and direct.

[krule27]

10:43 AM on 09/29/2011

what a pathetic comment... so you think the LGBT are using this boy's suicide as a means of promoting (let me guess) their "agenda"? Humans like you still exist in this modern world? lol

[jm26dream]

08:19 PM on 09/29/2011

Gay people don't bully or hate anyone

[mneff07]

09:41 PM on 09/28/2011

So a child dies and finally someo listens. It really does not matter to me wether sexual preferance is a choice, in born, or comes from outer space, I am a Christian and my God compels me to love my brothers and sisters just as they are-- Jesus did just that! So father I have no idea of his sprtitual condition, I hope only of he is not saved that he either called out to you, or is not of the age of accountability. Send peace to his family, father in Jesus name Amen.

[exclusivemediapress]

06:47 PM on 09/28/2011

This is a very sad and heartbreaking situation that should of had immediate intervention. Action can still be taken against the involved bullies. If you or someone you know is being bullied try BULLY BUZZ at http://www.bullybuzz.org where real intervention is provided for those who are being bullied and harassed, and for those who are the bullies and want help. Submit your ticket, We will respond to your ticket ASAP. Every voice will be heard and every case taken seriously.

We send prayers to the Rodemeyer family in their time of grieving.

Jamey Rodemeyer R.I.P.