In fact, several African American students took their lives around the highly publicized time-most notably Carl Hoover Walker, who was only 11 years old. What was just as disconcerting, however, was whom the media was primarily covering: white youth. The media attention peaked about a year ago, when within a three-week period, five gay or gender-nonconforming teens died by suicide, each case adding to a sense of urgency around the problem of bullying in our nation’s schools. It is difficult to determine why someone chooses to attempt suicide but many of the youth who died were bullied and harassed in their schools. In the past year or so, media attention rose surrounding the suicides of youth who were or were perceived to be gay or transgender. But if you’re a student who is (or is perceived to be) gay or gender nonconforming, that excitement turns to fear and anxiety because of the bullying you will endure day in and day out for the next nine months.* For some children the beginning of a new school year is marked with anticipation and excitement-to see friends and tackle a new year of learning.
“Back to school” signs have been hanging in store windows for weeks now.
