“While this may seem like an innocent prank to some, it was an act of torment against a child for being different. We expect the people we elect to be leaders in the charge against bullying so that all students are afforded the right to learn and grow in an environment free of fear. This incident calls into question whether Mitt Romney can be an advocate for the nation’s most vulnerable children.”

Judy Shepard, mother of murdered gay son Matthew Shepard - The Raw Story

“I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens. What do I have to do so people will listen to me?”

14-year-old JAMES RODEMEYER, in a Facebook posting on September 9; days later, he would commit suicide over anti-gay slurs directed at him at school and on the Internet.

Rodemeyer taped a message four months ago as part of the “It Gets Better Project,” saying, in part, “Love yourself and you’re set.  I promise you, it does get better.”

This is what happens when our leaders allow people to think, and accept, that it’s okay to hate others based on their sexuality, their gender, their race, their ethnicity, their religious beliefs.

This is why we stand up for others.  To prevent good people like James from dying at the hands of ignorant, cruel, bullying brutes.

Tumblr’s thoughts and prayers are with James’s family for their terrible loss.

(via the New York Daily News)

High-res “Minnesota Congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has had a lot of irresponsible things to say about the nation‘s debt ceiling, but has been virtually silent on another issue concerning her district that is dominating headlines.  The Justice Department and the Department of Education‘s Office of Civil Rights are now investigating the Anoka-Hennepin County School District after nine teenagers committed suicide in the last two years, many of them after being bullied for being or perceived as being gay.  Samantha Johnson was 13 years old. She had always been partial to wearing sweats and wore her hair short. Kids harassed her because they thought she was a lesbian. On Veterans Day in 2009, Samantha laid down in a bathtub, put a hunting rifle in her mouth and pulled the trigger.  Samantha‘s mom told “Mother Jones,” “I feel if I hadn‘t moved to this district, my daughter wouldn‘t have died.”  The Anoka-Hennepin School District has a policy that requires teachers to remain neutral on matters of homosexuality, which critics say contributes to an extremely anti-gay climate there. Critics also point to groups associated with Bachmann, like the Minnesota Family Council and the Parents Action League, who have for years successfully lobbied against LGBT issues being discussed in schools.  And while Bachmann has yet to comment on this matter, as a Minnesota state senator, she was very vocal in opposing a 2006 anti-bullying bill.” - Lawrence O’Donnell  Michele Bachmann on bullying (2006): “There‘s always been bullies, always have been, always will be. I just don‘t know how we‘re ever going to get to a point of zero tolerance. And what does it mean? What will be our definition of bullying? Will it get to the point where we are completely stifling free speech and expression?  Will it mean that—what form of behavior will there be? Will we be expecting boys to be girls? What is it exactly that we‘re asking for?  I don‘t mean say that as a sexist comment. But there are just differences with boys and with girls when they are on the playground and when they‘re in the classroom.”  Watch - MSNBC’s The Last Word This segment last night, broke my heart.

“Minnesota Congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has had a lot of irresponsible things to say about the nation‘s debt ceiling, but has been virtually silent on another issue concerning her district that is dominating headlines. 

The Justice Department and the Department of Education‘s Office of Civil Rights are now investigating the Anoka-Hennepin County School District after nine teenagers committed suicide in the last two years, many of them after being bullied for being or perceived as being gay. 

Samantha Johnson was 13 years old. She had always been partial to wearing sweats and wore her hair short. Kids harassed her because they thought she was a lesbian. On Veterans Day in 2009, Samantha laid down in a bathtub, put a hunting rifle in her mouth and pulled the trigger. 

Samantha‘s mom told “Mother Jones,” “I feel if I hadn‘t moved to this district, my daughter wouldn‘t have died.” 

The Anoka-Hennepin School District has a policy that requires teachers to remain neutral on matters of homosexuality, which critics say contributes to an extremely anti-gay climate there. Critics also point to groups associated with Bachmann, like the Minnesota Family Council and the Parents Action League, who have for years successfully lobbied against LGBT issues being discussed in schools. 

And while Bachmann has yet to comment on this matter, as a Minnesota state senator, she was very vocal in opposing a 2006 anti-bullying bill.” - Lawrence O’Donnell 

Michele Bachmann on bullying (2006):

“There‘s always been bullies, always have been, always will be. I just don‘t know how we‘re ever going to get to a point of zero tolerance. And what does it mean? What will be our definition of bullying? Will it get to the point where we are completely stifling free speech and expression? 

Will it mean that—what form of behavior will there be? Will we be expecting boys to be girls? What is it exactly that we‘re asking for? 

I don‘t mean say that as a sexist comment. But there are just differences with boys and with girls when they are on the playground and when they‘re in the classroom.” 

Watch - MSNBC’s The Last Word

This segment last night, broke my heart.

[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

Casey’s had enough. The bigger kid on the right “has been bullied his whole school life,” says the video description, “and this is what happens when he snaps!!” Hence the jackknife powerbomb. 

Continue reading… Deadspin