https://twitter.com/outmagazine/status/1120323994404581381
A high school teenager died by suicide after being the target of homophobic bullying, according to reports that began to surface over the weekend on Facebook. Nigel Shelby, a student at Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Alabama, was reportedly 15 at the time of his death.
"We are heartbroken over the death of Nigel Shelby, a 15 year old freshman at Huntsville High School," Rocket City Pride, the local LGBTQ+ Pride organization in Huntsville said in a statement. "Nigel took his life because he was bullied for being gay. There are no words that can be said to make sense of this devastating news." In the message, organizers said that the group would collect donations at their Drag Brunch Sunday and their Drag Queen Bingo on Tuesday to help Shelby's mother with funeral expenses. The $10,000 goal on a GoFundMe GoFundMe campaign had already been surpassed by more than $4,000 as of Monday morning. A candlelight vigil was also held in the Huntsville area on Sunday night.
"We were saddened to learn this morning of the death of Nigel Shelby, one of our 9th grade students," Aaron King, the principal of Shelby's school, wrote in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. The message went on to describe possible changes in children's behavior affected by the news and provided advice for parents on how to react.
"Suicide in Black youth is on the rise and has reportedly reached twice that of White youth," Nadia M. Richardson of the organization No More Martyrs wrote in a tribute on Facebook. "Unfortunately, for evidence of this, you don't have to look much further than the state of Alabama. I graduated from Huntsville High. I am still processing this loss. We have so much to understand and so much work to do. Racism, sexism, homophobia, classism; all of that plays a part. Bullying is a by product of a world ill equipped to include that which is deemed different."
According to the Center for Social Equity, 74 percent of LGBTQ+ youth say they don't feel safe at school. In Alabama specifically, according to locals there are no state-level protections for LGBTQ+ students in Alabama.
"These bullies have to be held accountable and until our state legislation shows that they have to do that, they are able to run amuck and do what they want," drag queen Caila Malone told WZDX News at the recurring Rocket City Pride Drag Brunch, which dedicated this week's event to Shelby. "It's shaken all of us so we just have to bring our LGBTQ community in Huntville together and let all of these kids know, that they are not alone." The Drag Brunch raised $800 for Shelby's family.
https://twitter.com/IamGMJohnson/status/1120094489882910720
https://twitter.com/ReaganGomez/status/1119973738588413952
https://twitter.com/socialequitysc/status/1119586915601268736
Stops killin us !!
really fucking sad
I blame the parents and school staff. I could never be a parent and not know what's going on with my child. My parents made sured to stay on top of us. The school staff knows when these kids are being bullied and don't help at all. School is supposed to be a safe space. You'd think after all these school shootings they'd be proactive but it's business as usual.
I'm going to jail for my kids.
Quote from: WAVÉS. on April 22, 2019, 11:05:14 AM
I blame the parents and school staff. I could never be a parent and not know what's going on with my child. My parents made sured to stay on top of us. The school staff knows when these kids are being bullied and don't help at all. School is supposed to be a safe space. You'd think after all these school shootings they'd be proactive but it's business as usual.
I'm going to jail for my kids.
Did your parents know all of what you were up to when you were a teenager?
horrible
Really fuckin sad.
This poor baby.
:stressed:
Quote from: Baeomi on April 22, 2019, 11:06:42 AM
Quote from: WAVÉS. on April 22, 2019, 11:05:14 AM
I blame the parents and school staff. I could never be a parent and not know what's going on with my child. My parents made sured to stay on top of us. The school staff knows when these kids are being bullied and don't help at all. School is supposed to be a safe space. You'd think after all these school shootings they'd be proactive but it's business as usual.
I'm going to jail for my kids.
Did your parents know all of what you were up to when you were a teenager?
Yes. My parents made sure myself and my siblings were comfortable talking to them about anything. Even if we lied, that's when they became extra af.
Quote from: WAVÉS. on April 22, 2019, 11:20:21 AM
Quote from: Baeomi on April 22, 2019, 11:06:42 AM
Quote from: WAVÉS. on April 22, 2019, 11:05:14 AM
I blame the parents and school staff. I could never be a parent and not know what's going on with my child. My parents made sured to stay on top of us. The school staff knows when these kids are being bullied and don't help at all. School is supposed to be a safe space. You'd think after all these school shootings they'd be proactive but it's business as usual.
I'm going to jail for my kids.
Did your parents know all of what you were up to when you were a teenager?
Yes. My parents made sure myself and my siblings were comfortable talking to them about anything. Even if we lied, that's when they became extra af.
So they knew about the XXX video's and stuff as well?
Rest In peace to this child! No one deserves to be bullied for the way they are.
But Im tired of these go fund me's asking for funeral donations. Life insurance can be for less than $20 a month.
Quote from: WAVÉS. on April 22, 2019, 11:05:14 AM
I blame the parents and school staff. I could never be a parent and not know what's going on with my child. My parents made sured to stay on top of us. The school staff knows when these kids are being bullied and don't help at all. School is supposed to be a safe space. You'd think after all these school shootings they'd be proactive but it's business as usual.
I'm going to jail for my kids.
Where were your parents when trade tried to rob you and busted 2 caps in yo ass?
My heart is hurting
horrible
Quote from: Baeomi on April 22, 2019, 11:21:45 AM
Quote from: WAVÉS. on April 22, 2019, 11:20:21 AM
Quote from: Baeomi on April 22, 2019, 11:06:42 AM
Quote from: WAVÉS. on April 22, 2019, 11:05:14 AM
I blame the parents and school staff. I could never be a parent and not know what's going on with my child. My parents made sured to stay on top of us. The school staff knows when these kids are being bullied and don't help at all. School is supposed to be a safe space. You'd think after all these school shootings they'd be proactive but it's business as usual.
I'm going to jail for my kids.
Did your parents know all of what you were up to when you were a teenager?
Yes. My parents made sure myself and my siblings were comfortable talking to them about anything. Even if we lied, that's when they became extra af.
So they knew about the XXX video's and stuff as well?
Everything. Anything else?
yikes
Come on yall, really? :ermm:
Sorry
I was just trying to get at the fact that parents can't be in know and can't control everything
Quote from: Genesis2 on April 22, 2019, 11:22:14 AM
Rest In peace to this child! No one deserves to be bullied for the way they are.
But Im tired of these go fund me's asking for funeral donations. Life insurance can be for less than $20 a month.
I am not blaming anyone, but I think this "freedom" to be gay is really making these cases increase. Instagram tells you that you have go out in heels, wigs, be free, be who you want to be , but the world is not quite there yet. I feel so sad for him, because at his age, school, the other kid's opinions , your friends etc is just your world. Once you become of age you realize just how short of a time frame 4 years truly is.
Mmm
If folks need money for the funeral
they need money
they are very expensive
he should be buried nicely after all the hell he dealt with on this fucked up earth
yh young king deserves this
Quote from: Baeomi on April 22, 2019, 11:21:45 AM
Quote from: WAVÉS. on April 22, 2019, 11:20:21 AM
Quote from: Baeomi on April 22, 2019, 11:06:42 AM
Quote from: WAVÉS. on April 22, 2019, 11:05:14 AM
I blame the parents and school staff. I could never be a parent and not know what's going on with my child. My parents made sured to stay on top of us. The school staff knows when these kids are being bullied and don't help at all. School is supposed to be a safe space. You'd think after all these school shootings they'd be proactive but it's business as usual.
I'm going to jail for my kids.
Did your parents know all of what you were up to when you were a teenager?
Yes. My parents made sure myself and my siblings were comfortable talking to them about anything. Even if we lied, that's when they became extra af.
So they knew about the XXX video's and stuff as well?
:omgwatshappening:
But yea
kinda stupid to blame the parents...we don't know what they talked about & we don't know it he told them his TRUE feelings :dead:
really ignorant
Let's see the black community rally behind this.