California boy on life support after suicide attempt — another case of anti-gay bullying

[FreeState]

Another one... this one happened this weekend in CA (there is a similar story on the greatest about a 13 year old boy in Texas that committed suicide).

So fucking sad...

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2010/09/california-boy-on-life-support-after-suicide-attempt-another-case-of-anti-gay-bullying/

A California boy remains in critical condition and on life support after he attempted to hang himself last week in what friends and neighbors describe as another case of anti-gay bullying.

Police and school officials are investigating the attempted suicide of 13-year-old Seth Walsh of Tehachapi, a town 40 miles east of Bakersfield.

Walsh was found Sunday, September 19, unconscious and not breathing, and it appeared he had tried to hang himself from a tree branch, according to police reports. He was rushed by helicopter to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield.

According to reports, Walsh is openly gay and was taunted by bullies for years, at school and at a local park....

[Starry Messenger]

1. Oh god, no.

:(

[FreeState]

5. Do you remember last year?

Seems there were a couple suicides at the start of school too (Georgia and DC? I believe one of them hung himself in his moms closet). Something needs to be done.

If anyone needs help and is reading this please call the Trevor Project its free and they will help: 1-866-488-7386

http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

[Starry Messenger]

6. I never knew about that #

I'm writing that down. It must be terrifying for kids who are bullied to have to go back to school. I actually changed schools because of being bullied, but I was lucky I could. :(

[FreeState]

9. The website has live chat too

its an excellent resource for anyone GLBT or not.

[Dappleganger]

8. We had that happen at our local high school when

we first moved here. There were several suicides over an 18 month period, and other attempts.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I hope he lives, and is well...How awful for him and his family.

[county worker]

3. I use to live near there. It is right wing territory. There are not too many schools he could

have gone to, maybe only one. I can feel pretty sure that the kids were taught by their parents that being gay wrong. In the five years I lived in the area I never met anyone who agreed with me politically except at the UU church in Bakersfield. I use to write LTTEs to the Bakersfield Californian because there was never a left wing slant on anything they printed. The first time I went to the UU church they knew my name because they use to cut our my LTTEs and saved them in a scrap book!

[Rhythm]

4. No words...

Just strength and good thoughts to the families of these kids.

What the fuck has gone so wrong with this society when kids and teens are allowed to so torment others -- to the point that the victims see death as a welcome alternative to their day-to-day lives?

[David Zephyr]

7. Heartbreaking. Hatred, rabid hatred is alive and thriving in the USA.

And it is evil.

[krabigirl]

10. I am intolerant of bigots. eff them all. this poor, poor boy and his family :( :(

[rawtribe]

11. R.I.P. Seth this is heartbreaking

http://www.tehachapinews.com/content/memorial-service-friday-oct-1-seth-walsh/31862

Seth Walsh, 13, whose suicide attempt Sept. 19 stunned the community, died Sept. 27 at Kern Medical Center with his family standing vigil.


His grandmother Judy Walsh said the family did not have to make the ultimate decision to remove life support.


“He died as of yesterday afternoon,” Judy Walsh said Tuesday, Sept. 28. "He passed away in a natural death. He is in the process of being an organ donor.”


A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 1, at 3:30 p.m. at the Tehachapi First Baptist Church, 1049 South Curry St., Tehachapi.

[Starry Messenger]

12. .

RIP Seth. :cry:

[Shell Beau]

13. As I said in the other thread about a 13 year old suicide (how sad

is that that there are 2 we are talking about today), the bullying HAS TO STOP. It can't be tolerated. Kids who are fat, ugly, stupid, smart, gay, poor, rich, wear funky clothes, wear awesome clothes, etc., etc, etc. They are kids with feelings. And parents HAVE to know what their children are doing. You can't contribute to this. You have to stop this parents. And I say parents because we are talking about children. They learn this behavior. Or they don't have the guts to stand against it. TEach your children it is WRONG. Teach them to care about people's feelings. REPORT this abuse and MAKE DAMNED SURE YOU ARE HEARD.

I am so sorry. Kids can be so cruel. But it is a reflection (for the most part) of how they are raised. Stop this bullshit. These are children. They deserve to be happy, innocent and care-free.

[dsc]

14. I am heartbroken

We have had four of these suicides and the school year isn't even a month old in huge swaths of the country. Plus an 11 year old had his arm broken. We discussed this and school climate at our GSA meeting today. It was a very intense meeting. I just don't know what is going on.

[ThomCat]

15. Rest in peace Seth Walsh...

:cry:

[NotThisTime]

16. So senseless :( It is unimaginably heartbreaking... his family is much kinder than I would be

RIP Seth...

[FreeState]

17. Update: Seth passed away yesterday afternoon :( n/t

[DearAbby]

18. It has been updated,

This young man lost his life. has since passed away. Another life tragically cut short.

[applegrove]

19. The president should speak about this. It happens far too often.