Gay Ohio Teen Who Was Assaulted in the Classroom Speaks Out: VIDEO
No doubt many of you remember the unprovoked, brutal assault of gay Ohio teen Zach Huston back in October which took place in his high school classroom in Chillicothe, Ohio, and was posted to Facebook.
Now, Zach and his mom are speaking out about the incident in a new video from the ACLU meant to draw attention to the Student Non-Discrimination Act, which would ban discrimination and harassment based on a students sexual orientation or gender in all U.S. public schools.
Watch the video, AFTER THE JUMP...
I think self-defense classes should be offered to these students. I taught classes at the LGBT center in our community. IT went really well and empowered them to not feel they had to be victims anymore. It taught them how to neutralize or to get away from the situation to get help. The LGBT center was not creating warriors.
Posted by: Dale | Feb 2, 2012 7:40:59 PM
Rolling Stone has an excellent if excruciating expose on the suicide cluster at Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota, from where Michele Bachman hails. Rampant and severe bullying went on for years (by some accounts decades) at school all the while ignored by, and in some cases made by, faculty. In this district, nine suicides occurred within a two year period from 2009-2011. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/one-towns-war-on-gay-teens-20120202
Posted by: Eleutherios | Feb 2, 2012 8:25:32 PM
Congratulations to Zach, his Mom and the ACLU for persuing this case. A crime was committed and the criminal(s) should be punished. Further, I think that Zach should enroll in a good self-defense program or a martial arts school.It would empower him. It would give him the skills and self confidence to stand up to bullies.One of the things that I have noticed is that people with bullying or agressive tendencies want to hurt others without getting hurt themselves. There is a good streak of cowardice in them. Thats why their most frequently used tactic is the sucker punch.They also tend to avoid picking on people they think may be able to hurt them. Good luck in your future Zach. As you have probably heard in the media: It does get better.A Zach with some added muscle and martial arts skills will make it even more certain to get better.
Posted by: jack | Feb 2, 2012 8:49:05 PM
kudos to both of them! their voices will indeed be heard.
sidenote: TAG and RELEASE.
that's right. i'm tagging him. look at him! he's going to grow up to be the most incredible man.
that's one swoon-worthy teen. gorgeous AND a vanguard? kiddo, your future looks bright.
Posted by: Little Kiwi | Feb 3, 2012 2:01:17 AM
If only all LGBT folks had mom's like this. I was one of the lucky ones. When my step dad died 20 years ago, the local bible beater came by to console her...and after a few visits, brought up the fact that her son "is going to hell." My mother cursed her out in a blue streak and threw her out of her house.
Posted by: QJ201 | Feb 3, 2012 7:47:57 AM
Where is Obama on the issue of anti-gay bullying? I've hardly heard anything from him. He's a failed leader who fails to step up to the plate for us.
Posted by: jason | Feb 3, 2012 8:30:17 AM
What I don't understand is why there isn't a zero tolerance policy in all schools for ANY TYPE of harassment or bullying for ANY reason?
Why just based on sexual identity?
Why not based on the fact that someone is poor or smaller or fat or whatever?
I understand the need for protection for LGBT young people, but this kind of gay-only ruling keeps LGBT people separate and "special" and helps fuel the fires.
Posted by: johnny | Feb 3, 2012 8:41:57 AM
Jason,
Are you really this lazy? "Google": it's both a noun and a verb:
Obama on bullying: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/22/obama-addresses-gay-youth-suicides-school-bullying/
Also, the U.S. president doesn't have control of local school districts.
As for LGBT rights, no other president has had as gay-friendly an administration as Obama's ultimately is. Look up the facts. He's not perfect but he sure as heck is better than most others. Just how great do you think a President McCain would have been? Do you think Mitt Romney or any other GOP candidate gives a fig about LGBT people? Look at their campaigns and their messaging. As Newt Gingrich told a gay man, "Go vote for Obama."
Posted by: Jeff | Feb 3, 2012 8:55:05 AM
Response to Jason's post. President Obama is the best president LGBT people have ever had. Which of the republican alternatives, who regularly throw gay people under the bus, in an attempt to gain the anti-gay republican party's nomination would you choose?
Posted by: jack | Feb 3, 2012 9:01:32 AM
Well said, Jeff and Jack. Jeff, you ask great questions: "Just how great do you think a President McCain would have been? Do you think Mitt Romney or any other GOP candidate gives a fig about LGBT people?" Sadly, we know the answers from Jason's tiresome history as this blog's #1 apologist for Republicans: He thinks McCain would have been great and he probably thinks Willard would be even better.
Of course, the following sorts of facts about Willard are of no concern to him since gay Republicans can't be bothered with anything which doesn't feed their loathing of the President:
That he once described homosexuality as "perverse" and "reprehensible"? http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/11/16/368369/romney-flashback-homosexuality-is-perverse-and-reprehensible/?mobile=nc
That he's donated thousands to an anti-gay group that promotes reparative therapy for gay people? http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2012/01/27/Rachel_Maddow_Calls_on_Media_to_Ask_Mitt_Romney_About_Antigay_Donations/
That he was so ruthless in his efforts to nullify the impact of the historic 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality that he dusted off a 1913 law that had been used to block interracial marriages in the Commonwea
Posted by: Patric | Feb 3, 2012 10:13:13 AM
Great book would have helped and can still help others.
"Gay Kids, Sue your school for a million bucks" at sueyourschool.com
Posted by: Sue Your School | Feb 3, 2012 6:33:37 PM
Simple Solution: Anyone Bullying anyone for any reason about anything, (Not just "GAY Bashing), is expelled from ALL State financed schools. Let the bully's Parents pay for private schooling
Posted by: Jerry6 | Feb 4, 2012 8:55:22 PM
This young man got a beat down because of his mouth! It was NOT because he was gay!
Posted by: classychazy | Feb 6, 2012 9:10:04 PM
Very good written article. It will be helpful to anyone who uses it, including yours truly. Keep up the good work – for sure i will check out more posts. http://www.louboutinshoes2u.com
Posted by: Christian Louboutin Sale | May 4, 2012 9:29:52 PM
I absolutely love this site.. shoes came right on time nd they areee generous got 2 pairs and the stitching A quality love them, The design and the look of your site are really nice! It makes my reading even more interesting and pleasant! - http://www.kisslouboutin.com/
Posted by: Discount Christian Louboutin Shoes | May 4, 2012 9:30:04 PM
This is the best blog I’ve ever seen in my life! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to share this with everyone. http://www.christianlouboutinshoesexy.com
Posted by: Christian Louboutin | May 4, 2012 9:30:21 PM