Jamey Rodemeyer’s Family Speaks Out About Bullying
Monday, October 03, 2011 5:31AM
Just a few weeks ago, after years of being bullied by classmates, taunted and teased for his sexuality, 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer took his own life outside of his suburban home in Buffalo.
According to Jamey’s family, the 9th grader had been teased since he was in the 5th grade. “He would come home crying and we would have to talk to him… sometimes on a daily basis,” says his mother, Tracy. Last year someone from his school anonymously posted a message online saying, “Jamey is stupid, fat and ugly. He must die.” I wouldn’t care if you died. :) No one would -- just do it. It would make everyone way more happier.”
On September 9th, 2011, Jamey wrote online, “I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens.” Nine days later on September 18, around 1:30 in the morning, he wrote a message to Lady Gaga, “Bye Mother Monster... Thank you for all you have done... Paws up forever.”
Later that morning, Jamey’s 14-year-old sister Alyssa discovered his body, hanging lifeless from their family swing set, outside of their home. “It is the same swing set that he was on since he was three years old. That we built special for them,” his mother tells Anderson.
Jamey loved his family, video games and Lady Gaga. He took comfort in Gaga’s lyrics of self acceptance. In a video message he posted, telling kids not to bully, he said, “We were born this way. Hold your head up and you’ll go far.”
In a recent concert, Lady Gaga dedicated a song to Jamey. Her message to him: “You’re not a victim, you’re a lesson to all of us.”
In this moment from Anderson’s interview with Jamey’s family, they give their reaction to Gaga’s tribute...
After Jamey’s wake, Tracy and Timothy encouraged Alyssa to join her friend at their school’s Homecoming dance. At the dance, just three days after Jamey was buried, a group of his bullies started yelling that that they were glad he’s dead.
Over the years, Anderson has reported on many deaths due to bullying. After each one he learns the new name of a child who has taken their life, he hopes it’s the last. A lot of schools and communities are much more aware of the problem of bullying, but kids are still dying. So many of these kids’ voices are never heard. They suffer in silence.
Today’s show is dedicated to the memory of Jamey Rodemeyer and Kameron Jacobsen, as well as all of the other children we’ve lost to bullying-related suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
For more information, go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
According to Jamey’s family, the 9th grader had been teased since he was in the 5th grade. “He would come home crying and we would have to talk to him… sometimes on a daily basis,” says his mother, Tracy. Last year someone from his school anonymously posted a message online saying, “Jamey is stupid, fat and ugly. He must die.” I wouldn’t care if you died. :) No one would -- just do it. It would make everyone way more happier.”
On September 9th, 2011, Jamey wrote online, “I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens.” Nine days later on September 18, around 1:30 in the morning, he wrote a message to Lady Gaga, “Bye Mother Monster... Thank you for all you have done... Paws up forever.”
Later that morning, Jamey’s 14-year-old sister Alyssa discovered his body, hanging lifeless from their family swing set, outside of their home. “It is the same swing set that he was on since he was three years old. That we built special for them,” his mother tells Anderson.
Jamey loved his family, video games and Lady Gaga. He took comfort in Gaga’s lyrics of self acceptance. In a video message he posted, telling kids not to bully, he said, “We were born this way. Hold your head up and you’ll go far.”
In a recent concert, Lady Gaga dedicated a song to Jamey. Her message to him: “You’re not a victim, you’re a lesson to all of us.”
In this moment from Anderson’s interview with Jamey’s family, they give their reaction to Gaga’s tribute...
After Jamey’s wake, Tracy and Timothy encouraged Alyssa to join her friend at their school’s Homecoming dance. At the dance, just three days after Jamey was buried, a group of his bullies started yelling that that they were glad he’s dead.
Over the years, Anderson has reported on many deaths due to bullying. After each one he learns the new name of a child who has taken their life, he hopes it’s the last. A lot of schools and communities are much more aware of the problem of bullying, but kids are still dying. So many of these kids’ voices are never heard. They suffer in silence.
Today’s show is dedicated to the memory of Jamey Rodemeyer and Kameron Jacobsen, as well as all of the other children we’ve lost to bullying-related suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
For more information, go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
Community Question
What are you, your school and your community doing to stomp out bullying?
Join the conversation.
Filed Under: As Seen On The Show
Comments
I can't believe that moron on here that blames it on people throwing homosexuals in his face. You don't have to be gay to get bashed, only different! My one son was a jock and was really popular, my other son was brillant and was interested in computers, history and music. He was teased quite a bit and thank God he didn't kill himself. I blame a lot of the bullying on parents. One time my athletic son was playing basketball and a bully came over and hit him so he hit him. They were around 12 or 13 then. Not long after the police show up at my house about the little fight they had and giving me crap about my son hitting him. One of the policemen was the father of that child and what was so very amusing was that the bully admitted in front of his father that he hit my son first. Boy, did they change their tune but I shouldn't it didn't change anything. My son, the athletic one was playing football in a small town near us and the coaches closed down the locker room and made them use a bucket outside to punish them for always beating his team. The point in that is people praise sports too much. Even though he got a college scholarship because of football, it didn't help him in his career. Thank goodness he was very intelligent and started his own business or he would be in the same trouble my nephews are in because their parents, or I should say father, was only interested in how good they were in sports and not academics. They barely made it out of high school.
He wasnt homeschooled because then they morons would of won. They want him to leave school. A few years ago a news segment here in NY said, "Kids teased for being overweight? Here's how to help them lose weight." Why did the kid need to lose weight? Why didn't the parents teach their ignorant little asses to have empathy for another child? Why not follow Roddenberry's idea of IDIC? Infinite diversity in infinite combinations. In other words rejoice in the differences. Everfybody these days are trying to be good little robots and conform. Why not be themselves? Why are we teaching our kids its ok to torment a child who is different? That it's ok to physically assualt another person just because they're different? Why does a child have to hide away and be homeschool as if he's done something shameful instead of twisted monsters that tortured that poor child?
My child and several other students at my daughters school had been bullied for years, everything we did or tried to do did not work. It would seem that society, schools to the point accept it and do nothing.
BUT, wait all you need to do is this - Contact the Education department civil rights and lodge a complaints form, be sure you have Journalized each and every event and issue as it is important.
Watch and see how fast the schools and community police pull their heads out and fix the situation. It worked for us and I would do it again to save my child and others from the anguish of bullying.
My name maybe mud in our community, but I saved children from bullying and possible suicide, I am proud to say I did something for a fellow human being and I do not care who avoids me in the streets or fears me voicing my opionons about bullying in our community.
OH, I also made it quite clear in he mediation sessions that the bullies are to have access and gain assistance with the issues they have. Be it mentally or other wise.
I believe kids bully as they maybe bullied at home or in the community, they also need assistance with issues.
Bullies do not need to go to Juvenille systems to be future thieves, adult bullies, rapists, and so on, they need help too.
Suicide is just another symptom of his mental illness.
Bullies dont just show up @ school. The parents that are trying to protect their kids from bullies, there are parents that abuse mistreat, ignore or encourage their kids to be bullies. We entrust our kids saftey to the schools we send them to. If they cant punish bad behavior,the same as they would suspend a student for threatening a teacher? Those kids should have been thrown out of school! Shame on they're parents for not teaching them better.
THE ISSUE IS THE PARENTS DID NOTHING . NOTHING TO HELP THIS CHILD EVEN IF THEY HAD HE WOULD HAVE NEEDED EVEN MORE HELP ALSO HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE SCHOOL HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOMESCHOOLED OR MOVED WE WENT THROUGH THIS WITH MY SON HE WOULD NEVER END IT ALL BECAUSE HE WANT TO FIGHT LIKE HELL TO GET THIS ISSUE OUT THERE BECAUSE WE ARE CLOSE AND WOULD NEVER NOT HELP HIM AGAIN HIS PARENTS DID NOT DO THEIR JOB WHICH IS TO PROTECT THEIR KID I AM VERY SORRY TO SAY BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE PROTECTION IT IS NOT EASY FOR PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THIS TAKE YOUR KID OUT OF THE SCHOOL AND GET THEM OFF LINE AND INTO FUN CLASSES AND HME SCHOOL THEM OR GO TO A NEW SCHOOL WITH LEGAL LETTERS HOLDING THE SCHOOL ACCOUNTABLE THIS IS A BIG ISSUE NOW TIME TO FLEX ARE RIGHTS THE TEACHERS MUST BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE AS WITH THE SCHOOLS TIME TO SUE TIME TO KICK SCREAM AND SHOUT !!
it is not just gays that get this i stood 4 foot nine till my senior year in high school and got bullied all the time even by the kids that were gay so it is not just normal kids that do this it is anyone who thinks they can get away with it it is a real joke to most of them
Bullying has become an element in the American culture. It's even being encouraged in the Media as you see people being mean and hurtful to each other is called "funny"!...call it humor, but some people who get bullied take the bulley crap seriously because they are most likely more emotional than others, so they hurt and punish themselves in their minds, because they feel guilty of people's poor judgement even if there's nothing really wrong with them.
Those who bulley others, are unhappy and hate their own life and face lots of issues in their own life, but take it on other people because that's the only way they can feel good about themselves.
I used to be a victim for 3-4 years when I was working in a small office. Some coworkers were gossipping and making fun of me all the time, without a direct referrence to me or my name, so I couldn't take a legal action. I am straight and have always been straight and into girls, and those coworkers knew this, but used to make fun of me because I was working much better than them, but at that time I was naive and didn't know the real reason behind their behavior and thought maybe the way I behaved (like eating that food, or wearing this or that, or thing like this) was the reason. I was too sensitive about what others thought and said about me. Looking back at this, instead of confronting them as I was fearing to lose my job if I did so, I thought they'd start behaving better, if I treat them more nicely and guess what? they even became meaner and ruder! One day, I couldn't take it anymore I confronted one of them by asking her reasons for doing that very calmly and reasonably without any treats or insulst, and obviously she denied talking about me, and started doing it 2mins after that! Few days later, the company owner fired me with any apparent reason! Every thing happens for a reason...even if it looks like bad at first! After a couple of months of being unemployed, and after some job training, I got a job with a salary 3 times as much higher and 10 times more respect in the new company, because I am a good person with good intentions.
My message to those who get bullied...never lose your faith, whatever you believe in. Know that those bulleys are weak and have their own issues and most of them are super-insecure about themselves. Ignore them by believing in yourself and be tough! You'll become stronger and your life will become better soon.
Bullying has become an element in the American culture. It's even being encouraged in the Media as you see people being mean and hurtful to each other is called "funny"!...call it humor, but some people who get bullied take the bulley crap seriously because they are most likely more emotional than others, so they hurt and punish themselves in their minds, because they feel guilty of people's poor judgement even if there's nothing really wrong with them.
Those who bulley others, are unhappy and hate their own life and face lots of issues in their own life, but take it on other people because that's the only way they can feel good about themselves.
I used to be a victim for 3-4 years when I was working in a small office. Some coworkers were gossipping and making fun of me all the time, without a direct referrence to me or my name, so I couldn't take a legal action. I am straight and have always been straight and into girls, and those coworkers knew this, but used to make fun of me because I was working much better than them, but at that time I was naive and didn't know the real reason behind their behavior and thought maybe the way I behaved (like eating that food, or wearing this or that, or thing like this) was the reason. I was too sensitive about what others thought and said about me. Looking back at this, instead of confronting them as I was fearing to lose my job if I did so, I thought they'd start behaving better, if I treat them more nicely and guess what? they even became meaner and ruder! One day, I couldn't take it anymore I confronted one of them by asking her reasons for doing that very calmly and reasonably without any treats or insulst, and obviously she denied talking about me, and started doing it 2mins after that! Few days later, the company owner fired me with any apparent reason! Every thing happens for a reason...even if it looks like bad at first! After a couple of months of being unemployed, and after some job training, I got a job with a salary 3 times as much higher and 10 times more respect in the new company, because I am a good person with good intentions.
My message to those who get bullied...never lose your faith, whatever you believe in. Know that those bulleys are weak and have their own issues and most of them are super-insecure about themselves. Ignore them by believing in yourself and be tough! You'll become stronger and your life will become better soon.
Bullying has become an element in the American culture. It's even being encouraged in the Media as you see people being mean and hurtful to each other is called "funny"!...call it humor, but some people who get bullied take the bulley crap seriously because they are most likely more emotional than others, so they hurt and punish themselves in their minds, because they feel guilty of people's poor judgement even if there's nothing really wrong with them.
Those who bulley others, are unhappy and hate their own life and face lots of issues in their own life, but take it on other people because that's the only way they can feel good about themselves.
I used to be a victim for 3-4 years when I was working in a small office. Some coworkers were gossipping and making fun of me all the time, without a direct referrence to me or my name, so I couldn't take a legal action. I am straight and have always been straight and into girls, and those coworkers knew this, but used to make fun of me because I was working much better than them, but at that time I was naive and didn't know the real reason behind their behavior and thought maybe the way I behaved (like eating that food, or wearing this or that, or thing like this) was the reason. I was too sensitive about what others thought and said about me. Looking back at this, instead of confronting them as I was fearing to lose my job if I did so, I thought they'd start behaving better, if I treat them more nicely and guess what? they even became meaner and ruder! One day, I couldn't take it anymore I confronted one of them by asking her reasons for doing that very calmly and reasonably without any treats or insulst, and obviously she denied talking about me, and started doing it 2mins after that! Few days later, the company owner fired me with any apparent reason! Every thing happens for a reason...even if it looks like bad at first! After a couple of months of being unemployed, and after some job training, I got a job with a salary 3 times as much higher and 10 times more respect in the new company, because I am a good person with good intentions.
My message to those who get bullied...never lose your faith, whatever you believe in. Know that those bulleys are weak and have their own issues and most of them are super-insecure about themselves. Ignore them by believing in yourself and be tough! You'll become stronger and your life will become better soon.
Bullying has become an element in the American culture. It's even being encouraged in the Media as you see people being mean and hurtful to each other is called "funny"!...call it humor, but some people who get bullied take the bulley crap seriously because they are most likely more emotional than others, so they hurt and punish themselves in their minds, because they feel guilty of people's poor judgement even if there's nothing really wrong with them.
Those who bulley others, are unhappy and hate their own life and face lots of issues in their own life, but take it on other people because that's the only way they can feel good about themselves.
I used to be a victim for 3-4 years when I was working in a small office. Some coworkers were gossipping and making fun of me all the time, without a direct referrence to me or my name, so I couldn't take a legal action. I am straight and have always been straight and into girls, and those coworkers knew this, but used to make fun of me because I was working much better than them, but at that time I was naive and didn't know the real reason behind their behavior and thought maybe the way I behaved (like eating that food, or wearing this or that, or thing like this) was the reason. I was too sensitive about what others thought and said about me. Looking back at this, instead of confronting them as I was fearing to lose my job if I did so, I thought they'd start behaving better, if I treat them more nicely and guess what? they even became meaner and ruder! One day, I couldn't take it anymore I confronted one of them by asking her reasons for doing that very calmly and reasonably without any treats or insulst, and obviously she denied talking about me, and started doing it 2mins after that! Few days later, the company owner fired me with any apparent reason! Every thing happens for a reason...even if it looks like bad at first! After a couple of months of being unemployed, and after some job training, I got a job with a salary 3 times as much higher and 10 times more respect in the new company, because I am a good person with good intentions.
My message to those who get bullied...never lose your faith, whatever you believe in. Know that those bulleys are weak and have their own issues and most of them are super-insecure about themselves. Ignore them by believing in yourself and be tough! You'll become stronger and your life will become better soon.
Bullying has become an element in the American culture. It's even being encouraged in the Media as you see people being mean and hurtful to each other is called "funny"!...call it humor, but some people who get bullied take the bulley crap seriously because they are most likely more emotional than others, so they hurt and punish themselves in their minds, because they feel guilty of people's poor judgement even if there's nothing really wrong with them.
Those who bulley others, are unhappy and hate their own life and face lots of issues in their own life, but take it on other people because that's the only way they can feel good about themselves.
I used to be a victim for 3-4 years when I was working in a small office. Some coworkers were gossipping and making fun of me all the time, without a direct referrence to me or my name, so I couldn't take a legal action. I am straight and have always been straight and into girls, and those coworkers knew this, but used to make fun of me because I was working much better than them, but at that time I was naive and didn't know the real reason behind their behavior and thought maybe the way I behaved (like eating that food, or wearing this or that, or thing like this) was the reason. I was too sensitive about what others thought and said about me. Looking back at this, instead of confronting them as I was fearing to lose my job if I did so, I thought they'd start behaving better, if I treat them more nicely and guess what? they even became meaner and ruder! One day, I couldn't take it anymore I confronted one of them by asking her reasons for doing that very calmly and reasonably without any treats or insulst, and obviously she denied talking about me, and started doing it 2mins after that! Few days later, the company owner fired me with any apparent reason! Every thing happens for a reason...even if it looks like bad at first! After a couple of months of being unemployed, and after some job training, I got a job with a salary 3 times as much higher and 10 times more respect in the new company, because I am a good person with good intentions.
My message to those who get bullied...never lose your faith, whatever you believe in. Know that those bulleys are weak and have their own issues and most of them are super-insecure about themselves. Ignore them by believing in yourself and be tough! You'll become stronger and your life will become better soon.
Bullying has become an element in the American culture. It's even being encouraged in the Media as you see people being mean and hurtful to each other is called "funny"!...call it humor, but some people who get bullied take the bulley crap seriously because they are most likely more emotional than others, so they hurt and punish themselves in their minds, because they feel guilty of people's poor judgement even if there's nothing really wrong with them.
Those who bulley others, are unhappy and hate their own life and face lots of issues in their own life, but take it on other people because that's the only way they can feel good about themselves.
I used to be a victim for 3-4 years when I was working in a small office. Some coworkers were gossipping and making fun of me all the time, without a direct referrence to me or my name, so I couldn't take a legal action. I am straight and have always been straight and into girls, and those coworkers knew this, but used to make fun of me because I was working much better than them, but at that time I was naive and didn't know the real reason behind their behavior and thought maybe the way I behaved (like eating that food, or wearing this or that, or thing like this) was the reason. I was too sensitive about what others thought and said about me. Looking back at this, instead of confronting them as I was fearing to lose my job if I did so, I thought they'd start behaving better, if I treat them more nicely and guess what? they even became meaner and ruder! One day, I couldn't take it anymore I confronted one of them by asking her reasons for doing that very calmly and reasonably without any treats or insulst, and obviously she denied talking about me, and started doing it 2mins after that! Few days later, the company owner fired me with any apparent reason! Every thing happens for a reason...even if it looks like bad at first! After a couple of months of being unemployed, and after some job training, I got a job with a salary 3 times as much higher and 10 times more respect in the new company, because I am a good person with good intentions.
My message to those who get bullied...never lose your faith, whatever you believe in. Know that those bulleys are weak and have their own issues and most of them are super-insecure about themselves. Ignore them by believing in yourself and be tough! You'll become stronger and your life will become better soon.
When I was in grade school, nobody can bully me because if they do, I will give them one straight punch or spinning back kick in either their face or body! Because I've learned karate since when I was 7 years old up to present. That's why they are afraid of having fun with me!
My two advice for parents:
1. Send your child to Martial Art school and
2. Send your child at PSR (Public School Religion) in your district.
The schools should be allowed to temporarily evict bullies!