Indiana Teen Commits Suicide After Anti-Gay Bullying at School
Tragic news to report from Indiana. Like Jaheem Herrera, Carl Walker-Hoover, and Eric Mohat, 15-year-old Billy Lucas' suicide appears to have been inspired by anti-gay bullying at school.
"The 15-year-old never told anyone he was gay but students at Greensburg High School thought he was and so they picked on him. 'People would call him 'fag' and stuff like that, just make fun of him because he's different basically,' said student Dillen Swango. Students told Fox59 News it was common knowledge that children bullied Billy and from what they said, it was getting worse. Last Thursday, Billy's mother found him dead inside their barn. He had hung himself. Students said on that same day, some students told Billy to kill himself. 'They said stuff like 'you're like a piece of crap' and 'you don't deserve to live.' Different things like that. Talked about how he was gay or whatever,' said Swango."
News report, AFTER THE JUMP...
"Friends of Lucas say that he had been tormented for years. 'Some people at school called him names,' Hughes said, saying most of those names questioned Lucas' sexual orientation, and that Lucas, for the most part, did little to defend himself. 'He would try to but people would just try to break him down with words and stuff and just pick on him,' Hughes said."
A memorial to Billy has gone up on Facebook.
Watch WXIN's report, interviews with students, and a statement from suicide prevention group The Trevor Project, AFTER THE JUMP...
"We are saddened to once again hear of another young person who died of suicide as a result of school bullying. Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old at Greensburg High School stood out among the 630 students in the school because he was different. Other students perceived that Billy was gay and he was relentlessly tormented as a result.
While the school district does have anti-harassment and anti-bullying policies, the policies do not specifically protect youth from harassment due to real or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression. Only eleven states in the country offer fully inclusive anti-harassment and anti-bullying education policies, and Indiana is not among them.
Currently, there is no national standard to protect all of our children from bullying and harassment at school. Yet, we know that as many as 1 in 10 sexual minority youth have been physically assaulted at school, and that when youth are threatened or get into fights, or have property stolen at school, their risk of attempting suicide more than doubles. That is why The Trevor Project supports fully inclusive federal legislation, like the Safe Schools Improvement Act currently under consideration in the Senate, to offer the protections all of our children need from torment and ridicule at school, regardless of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Only with an enforceable national standard that offers resources and support to educators and staff, no matter the size of a school district, will we be able to prevent future tragedies like Greensburg High School has experienced. The death of Billy Lucas is a tragedy, and one that might have been prevented if his school district had the support of a fully inclusive anti-harassment and anti-bullying law."
"As a mother...Every day I do a point check with my kids about how they are being treated.'
Which is great, don't get me wrong, but also check to make certain your children are not the ones involved in BULLYING OTHERS, which many parents swear up and down is something THEIR children would not do...
Posted by: yeahisaidit | Sep 14, 2010 11:45:35 AM
"Students said on that same day, some students told Billy to kill himself"
And my parents wonder why I'm a loner and don't really like being around people all that much. I'm so tired of dealing with the legions of assholes in this world.
"The people who would create a Facebook page memorializing this have just as much blood on their hands as any bully for not standing up for this young man"
That's harsh, but mostly true. "Mostly" because, as I know from experience, when you stick up for someone being bullied, there's a good chance that suddenly *you'll* be the focus of their bullshit.
Posted by: Henry Holland | Sep 14, 2010 11:59:16 AM
I'm not being morbid when I ask WHAT was "different" about Billy that made others respond with the current cliches about "being gay" and deserving to be picked on? When I was his age I was verbally abused by other kids and subjected to witless remarks by teachers because I was slightly different physically and was totally uninterested in sports and school traditions that seemed silly. I realize now that I was so weird in so many ways that few connected my general queerness with sexuality in particular. Obviously, I was lucky to be there before public awareness of gays was at a high level and seized on as an excuse to be nasty, brutish and hateful. But I am curious about what traits trigger the current 'phobes.
Posted by: CoMo'mo | Sep 14, 2010 12:17:11 PM
I was looking at my nephew's facebook page the other day.
He lives maybe 40-50 miles from Greensburg, in Indiana.
He is in high school there. In one of his wall posts he called
one of his friends a "fagget". He can't spell the derogatory
term he throws around. What to do, what to do.
Posted by: kodiak | Sep 14, 2010 12:33:50 PM
@GAYLIB
I hear youngsters these days using gay slurs routinely in public places. And it seems to be worse than in times past. Consequently, in my first comment, I was questioning whether young straight people today are more open-minded about sexual difference (whether real or perceived) than young people in times past as some have said. Instead of becoming less homophobic, young straight people seem to be getting worse. That was the point I was making.
I don't know how you decided, based on my first comment, that I was blaming the victim. How could I take the side of the bullies when school was a nightmare for me as well?
Posted by: elg | Sep 14, 2010 1:44:32 PM
Alas, but it's really clinical depression, caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, that cause suicidal tendencies, not bullying, regardless of the perceived correlation. Certainly, if there are disciplinary actions to be taken regarding the bullying then they should be meted out, but the depression was not caught in time.
Posted by: anon | Sep 14, 2010 4:11:13 PM
Also, the Columbine shooters were not picked on, but rather, the leader, Eric Harris was a sociopath with a murderous/sadistic streak and his partner in crime, Dylan Klebold, was caught under his spell. There are two books on the subject that go into everything in great detail.
Posted by: anon | Sep 14, 2010 4:18:35 PM
Welcome to Christianist America, where the powerful and bigoted make "save our children" speeches about the contemptible inferiority of LGBTQ people and our sick/evil/anti-American lifestyle. Here's the result.
When I was 16, I drove off into the woods and took a massive overdose of prescription narcotics after gym class one day. I'm alive because a telephone lineman found me, and because the therapist my parents sent me to after I took an overdose of prescription narcotics at 16 turned out to be gay.
I was lucky. Billy wan't lucky. He was murdered by proxy.
Posted by: Bryan | Sep 14, 2010 7:27:43 PM
I feel so sorry for that young man that hung himself after being tortured so much, just like the others. I was bullied pretty much throughout 12 years of school. I say that anyone that is getting bullied should learn to fight back and when the bullies see you fighting back, they might just stay away from you. I am going on 55 years old this month and I just recently became friends once again with someone that bullied me pretty much all through school. If you stay strong, you will realize that when you graduate from HS that the bullies do grow up and stop the bullying. I am back to being friends with at least 2 former bullies. I know it's hard to do but you have to try and tough it out like I did in hopes that things would eventually get better and they did. Believe it or not, it's true what they say that bullies bully others so they won't get bullied themselves. Bullies act tough but deep down inside them they are scared to death. They of course wouldn't dare mention that to anyone though. My Mom told me when I got bullied to try and reason when the bullies and act like a fine young lady and not a back alley rat. When that didn't work, my Dad put on a pair of boxing gloves and taught me a few good boxing moves. Well, I never had to punch anyone out at school, but if a girl pulled my hair I pulled her hair. If someone put chips in my hair, I did the same thing to them. If someone kicked me in the leg, I kicked them back. Eventually they saw I fought back, so they left me alone. I know the saying "two rights don't make a wrong" but I rather fight back and suffer the consequences, than make the bullies happy by crying or trying to hurt or kill myself. Maybe it's time that former bullies and former victims join together and give lectures in schools and let the bullies and victims of bullies know that there's gonna be a time that you "GROW UP" and stop the bullying. That you both "bury the hatchet" as the saying goes. Right now I can say that I am friends with at least some of the people that bullied me in school. Thanks to my Dad teaching me some boxing moves(yes girls/women can fight back,too and at any age)and always telling me "never make throw the first punch", I not only stopped a guy from stealing my sister's car and 2 other cars, but at 4 months pregnant with 2 toddlers at home, I stopped a 22 year old guy from entering into my kitchen after he kicked the door in and the lock flew off. I would do anything to protect the ones I love, and I have proved it many times. When my kids were in school, I told them if someone hurts them to get them back and that I would deal with the teachers or principal if I had to. If I see a kid or even an elderly person or animal getting bullied, I will stop the bullies. I yelled at a man in our neighborhood for abusing his dog. I never saw that man or the dog again. The guy is on probation for abuse of a person, I think, and the guy didn't even yell at me to mind my own business when I yelled at him. Even if you are weak inside, try to be strong-willed on the outside and you will scare the bullies away.
Don't give in to the bullies by hurting yourselves or hanging yourself or any other type of suicide. Your life is too important! Ya never know if you will end up being some bullies boss someday and then watch the bullies squirm then. LOLOL Most bullies do eventually grow up. Learn the right way of fighting if you want to fight back. Take care and good luck! Believing in God helps a lot and prayers, too. Cindy
Posted by: Cindy | Sep 15, 2010 9:21:41 AM
By the way, a "fag" is an English cigarette, I was told. Isn't it awfully ignorant of bullies to call Gays a "cigarette"? LOL I am totally heterosexual but as long as the gays/lesbians don't hit on me or my kids,grandkids, why not just "live and let live"? Or like that famous Beatle song, "Let it Be". I also think that the people in politics need to stop bullying other political parties. Do ya hear that you Republicans that enjoy bullying the Democrats when you don't get your own ways?
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy | Sep 15, 2010 9:29:51 AM
What I find profoundly disturbing is that the principal, in his folksy comments, reflects no education whatsoever in harassment, teaching respect for diversity, cherishing the different among us because they often become the true stars of our national life and particularly in letting gay students know they can go to adults with their problems with the expectation they will be treated with understanding and be taken seriously.
Posted by: Wayne Brasler | Sep 15, 2010 2:31:09 PM
Anon, stop blaming all depression and suicide on chemical imbalances in the brain. This is utterly disgusting and absolves the community and society from any responsibility. The GLBT population suffers disproportionately from depression. This is because of the social violence that is daily perpetrated against us and often being extremely isolated because of our sexuality. Many of us go from being rather happy and normal children to very depressed and withdrawn teens or adults as a result of this isolation and the hostility that we experience. If you beat a happy energetic puppy enough times I'm sure you will discover that it has developed a "chemical imbalance" and becomes forlorn and frightened.
Posted by: Vlad | Sep 15, 2010 3:04:05 PM
Not only that the students picked on him, i was told by one of his friends that TEACHERS also treated him differently.. i am a student at greensburg high school. and was billy's mutual friend, never said a word to him though, thought how his hair was dyed was cool, although people, i have heard him treat others disrespectfully... to give otherds the opportunity to say things to him like that, BUT he was just treating others how he is treated. its the golden rule. not only this, The principal, Mr. chapple, just said "darn" about the whole thing... wtf... he should be replaced immediately. although for the teachers that treated him diffrent, be fired. I know who you are. i could turn you in. rip billy.
Posted by: Scott A. | Sep 16, 2010 12:54:58 AM
I had met Billy through local horse shows. It's upsetting that this had to happen. It's not fair that the school will intervene with bullying of some kids but not all. Everyone knew that kids picked on Billy and nothing was ever done about it. I think that what is more upsetting is that it is assumed that Billy was gay. He had never openly admitted that he was. For the news channels and other websites to assume that Billy was gay is just as bad as all the kids that bullied him assuming he was gay. It doesn't matter whether he was gay or not, he was still bullied beyond what he could handle. It does not make it any worse whether he was gay or straight. No child should be bullied regardless of their (assumed) sexuality. Assumptions can hurt, that should be evident through Billy's story.
Posted by: Raven | Sep 16, 2010 10:21:25 AM
He had a Connexion Profile too: http://www.connexion.org/viewprofile.cfm?id=326321
Posted by: Ladd | Sep 16, 2010 10:52:54 AM
* Please ask CNN to cover the horrible Child Death and Cover-Up of Billy Lucas. Please report the names of Bullies and teachers who knew*
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/tips/newstips.html
This isn’t about BEING gay, but about being PERCEIVED as gay. The mindset of the bullies, their resulting actions, AND the inactions and the denial by Principal Phil Chapple is the issue here. This was Common Knowledge. The Parents of the Bullies and the Educatiors are ultimately the ones responsible for this death. They did not condemn nor control the atmosphere of hate. This was not the first such incident. They are holding no one accountable.
It is as clear as a crystal ball that a community wide denial and cover up of a PERCEIVED gay 15 year old child being pushed to suicide by that very same community’s people is going on in full swing. You own this Greensburg! This mindset that it is Perfectly Okay to harass a child who is perceived as gay to the point of taking his own life, originates with, is perpetuated by, is endorsed by, and is denied by the Parents, and the Educational and Community Leaders of GREENSBURG, INDIANA, U.S.A.
Greensburg, Indiana is “The United States Capitol City of Hate!!!”
The mother (condolences) even at THIS point cannot find it within herself to entertain the remote possibility that Billy might have been gay. Sadly part of the problem. The mother knew that he was harassed. What did she do about it? Where is Social Services on this issue.
The Principal denies knowing of that which is common knowledge.
There has been ABSOLUTELY ZERO coverage in the Greensburg Daily Newspaper. Letters have been written to the editor. ‘non-coverage’
Expressing concerns directly to the Principal will be ineffective. Contact these other responsible or involved parties. Simply ask for investigations into Billy Lucas’ death.
Mr. Tom Hunter, Superintendent Greensburg Community Schools
1312 W. Westridge Parkway
Greensburg, IN 47240
(812)663-4774
thunter@greensburg.k12.in.us
School Board Members
Lisa Tressler – President
ltressler@rbskpartners.com
1476 South County Rd., 480 East, Greensburg, IN
David Weigel – Vice President
djweigel@comcast.net
716 Kessler Blvd., Greensburg, IN
Valorie Moorman – Secretary
moormanv@purdue.edu
4848 South County Rd. 60 SW, Greensburg, IN
Dave Meyer- Member
Dsmeyer1@comcast.net
515 Sycamore Trail, Greensburg, IN
Al Moore – Member
Al.Moore@rbc.com
514 Baili Ct., Greensburg, IN
Tony Owens – Member
theowenszoo@etczone.com
614 N. Franklin St., Greensburg, IN
Steve Taylor – Member
sttaylorlaw@gmail.com
PO Box 125, Greensburg, IN
Other Contacts:
Chief of Police Brian Heaton
www.greensburgpolice.com
http://www.cityofgreensburg.com/police.html
812-663-3131
Mayor Gary Herbert
Email: mayor@cityofgreensburg.com
812-663-3344
City Council Members
812-663-3344
Herb Hunter
Bill Wenning
JamieCain
Darrell Poling
Helen Gardner
June Rule
Greg Zoeller - Indiana Attorney General
Constituent@atg.in.gov
317.232.6201
Dr. Tony Bennett – Superintendent of Public Instruction
Indiana Department of Education
superintendent@doe.in.gov superintendent@doe.in.gov
Todd Huston - Chief of Staff, Indiana Department of Education
thuston@doe.in.gov
317-232-6614
Governor Mitch Daniels (whose links from the City’s Page have been made inoperative)
317-232-4567
www.in.gov/gov/2631.htm
Fox 59 news Video
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-greensburg-to-address-bullying-091610,0,2457219.story
Greensburg Daily News
http://greensburgdailynews.com/letters/x176918853/LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR-9-17-10
Indy Star News
http://www.indystar.com/article/99999999/HELP/100912004?template=helpforms
Post – Tribune Indianapolis
ptvoice@post-trib.com
WFYI - Indianapolis
http://www.wfyi.org/contactus.asp
Posted by: customartist | Sep 19, 2010 6:01:21 PM
I think this is getting way out of hand, the students that bully kids wheather they are gay or from another ethnicity. Something needs to be done.
Posted by: Ryan Anderson | Sep 19, 2010 6:59:16 PM
Somehow I don't think "inspired" is the right word to describe how one came about suicide...
Posted by: Mara | Sep 22, 2010 9:54:59 PM
Gaylib: Yes we have a school policy based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, perceived or otherwise in NC, but it only works, if the school enforces it. As evidenced by Jordan and Chase's prom story. If I hadn't gone to the school and said something, they never would have been able to attend the Starmount Prom together.
Living in NC I know that when the kids at school pick on Jordan, that I have to say something about it and sometimes throw a fit to get them to do something and we have those protection laws on the book, so they are required by law to act and I still have to make them.
So imagine being Billy Lucus, where they don't have these laws, you tell the teacher, principal that you are being bullied and they just ignore it, there is no law to throw in their face, and they aren't required to do anything at all...
Everyone knew that Billy was being picked on and bullied, students, teachers, the principal...it is my understanding that they were told repeatedly, yet did nothing. How can anyone stop the bullying if the school tolerates it and their tolerance enforces the idea to their students that this type of behavior is okay?
It breaks my heart that this child felt his only escape from the hell they put him through was to take his own life. He was not inspired to commit suicide, he was bullied to death. No child should ever have to endure what Billy did, no school should ever turn a blind eye to hate. And if they won't take care of the problem their selves then we have to make them by passing legislation that forces them too. Call your Senators, and Congress about the Student Non-Discrimination Act. Tell them they need to protect our nations children from bullying!!! Because until it is a law and policy, where parent's and students have some kind of resource, some kind of recourse...that forces the school to protect these kids, these deaths will continue!
Posted by: Leesa | Sep 23, 2010 2:12:25 PM
There is a cover up of Billy's death by the local media and community. His own mother was abusive to Billy because the family knew he was gay. Billy had a profile on a gay dating website. He was tormented in school constantly and then tormented at home by his mother. I read from an online journal that Billy's mother said after his death "he doesn't deserve a funeral." His family continues to lie in the media about his homosexuality out of shame. But everyone around that community knew well about Billy.
The school is lying that they didn't know that the bullying occured. This whole case needs to be investigated by the Department of Justice. His mother should be investigated and the school leadership. Billy was suspended from school on that same day when he tried to defend himself from bullies.
Posted by: Jessie | Sep 29, 2010 4:14:54 AM
Really people are just so fuckin crule.Honestly why would u tease someone because of hw they choose to live they're life.Homosexuality is not wrong love is love no matter the gender,the nerve of some people really,everyone has or knos a family member or bestie that gay,or bi now while u tease someone becuz they are imagine if it was someone u kno that the constant bullyin drove them to end their life
As a bisexual ican imagine how the teasin can be nd to the family of Billy Lucas im so sorry for your lost.
See More
Posted by: Shakeela | Sep 30, 2010 10:01:21 AM
And where do these kids get these opinions? From their parents. "Oh, it's politically correct not to call people faggots. Why should we support the gay lifestyle?" I have worked with a number of gay people and I have yet to figure out what the hell a gay lifestyle is. Seems like they do the same shit I do. Go to work, pay taxes, pay their mortgages and bills, etc. Go to the polls in November and vote out these damn Republicans and these insane tea party people.
Posted by: Angela | Sep 30, 2010 6:41:39 PM
The parents are not to blame what so ever, but what I don't understand is, as a parent, how do you not know how severe the bullying is getting? I mean, can't you figure out what is wrong with your kid? I can't see the kid coming how all happy. The minute I learned my kid was getting bullied, I would take action at that school, and if it meant moving him to another school, then so be it. I just can't see it getting to the point it has with these kids without my going down to that school and causing a scene, or paying a visit to the bullying persons home.
Posted by: Fight Fight Figh | Oct 1, 2010 7:13:38 PM
That's so gay: is said to mean something is not good. where as I'm strait is said to mean I'm good if poeple do not understand this they are lying to there selves kids need to stop the bullying of all students no matter what they are be it Gay,Fat,Skinny,are Different Race or Religeon. Church bullying of Gays at the pulpit is part of the problem. Stop preaching hate and you will stop a lot of the pain you are creating think of love
Posted by: John Harness | Oct 9, 2010 5:24:45 PM
those jerk kids should be put in prison for what they did. maybe the didn't actually kill the other kid, but they sure as hell helped it happen, they need to be held responsible to the utmost portion of the law, in all ways. and for the school to be like "they don't have anything to specifically for anti gay harassment" don't make me laugh. harassment is harassment. it doesn't matter what the reason is, no one should have to tell the educated this. they are to blame as well, sue their asses off.
Posted by: ManinIndy | Oct 10, 2010 6:45:51 PM