by:  Pam Spaulding
Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 12:00:00 PM EDT

QuoteNorth Carolina's General Assembly is considering an anti-bullying bill that includes sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. You'd think something like this -- legislation to keep kids safe in school -- wouldn't be hard to pass, but the homo/transphobic wingnuts, obviously find no problem with children who are non-gender conforming getting their asses kicked over and over while teachers and administrators look the other way.

Bullying is no laughing matter. The parents of a teen who committed suicide because of relentless bullying in high school have filed a fed lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against the administrators of Mentor High School.

Seventeen Eric Mohat was repeatedly called "gay," "->-bleeped-<-," "queer" and "homo," many times in front of his teachers. (ABC):

Pam's article links to this one:

QuoteEric Mohat, 17, was harassed so mercilessly in high school that when one bully said publicly in class, "Why don't you go home and shoot yourself, no one will miss you," he did.

Now his parents, William and Janis Mohat of Mentor, Ohio, have filed a lawsuit in federal court, saying that their son endured name-calling, teasing, constant pushing and shoving and hitting in front of school officials who should have protected him.

The lawsuit -- filed March 27, alleges that the quiet but likable boy, who was involved in theater and music, was called "gay," "->-bleeped-<-," "queer" and "homo" and often in front of his teachers. Most of the harassment took place in math class and the teacher -- an athletic coach -- was accused of failing to protect the boy.

As a victim of bullying myself, I have to say, you never get "over" it completely.
People will say "oh kids will be kids" or "boys will be boys" and act like that excuses it. "Kids can be so cruel" is said with some sympathy but no real desire to actually do something about it.
Each time I read about a kid snapping and taking a gun to school, I know exactly what would drive a human being to do that and understand. Each time I read about a kid breaking down and killing itself after years of bullying, I know exactly what would drive a human being to do that and understand.

Children aren't the only ones that bully Adults do to, only it is more insidious.  Even those who are your friends.

Janet

I agree.  Children who were bullies often grow up to be big bullies, and they learn to do it in ways that are socially acceptable.

I, for one, still feel the scars of bullies when I was in school.

Kristi

Sometimes, the victims of childhood bullying grow up to be bullies to avoid adult bullying.

And adult bullying isn't more "insidious" really either. Children can be vicious, horrible, insidious, and otherwise disgusting too.

I was a victim of two bullies in highschool and it stop when they found out I fight back and not a fair fight either. Children can be very cruel. Where did they learn it? I have heard of families that if a son loses a fight the father beats him for losing.   If a parent entrusts the well being of their child to the school and the child is abused phyically or verbally the school should be held responsible. Allowing a child to be abused is a criminal act at should be prosecuted accordingly.