So I know that many of you probably don’t keep up on American news, but there is a truly saddening story I feel the need to share. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THIS, OR NOTHING CHANGES.
So recently in Colorado there was a 9 year old boy that committed suicide. It has come out that over the summer he told his mom he was gay, and she supported his decision as any good parent would. However, the kid felt so accepted and loved by his family that he decided to tell his classmates. His classmates responses were bullying and tuants such as, “you should kill yourself”. Unfortunately, after 4 days of this insanity, that is what Jamel Myles decided to do.
He killed himself becuase of the way people treated him. These were kids who convinced Jamel to kill himself, kids! What has my country come to, mass shooting one day, suicide the next, police brutality the day after, and then good old thoughts and prayers to wrap it up from Congress. I know that I am coming to the age where I have the power to speak out, but I find myself worried because of the terrible that have happened.
This is forum has been a blessing for me, (finding like me, who share my passions) because I have social issues that stem from early childhood bullying just like Jamel. This issue hits me in the heart, hard. I’ve noticed before some hate speech about the LGBTQ+ community on this forum. I know it’s even forced certain members to hide themselves away, and out of discussions. Now I understand that there are many diverse cultures represented in this forum, but I ask (and demand) kindly that people think about the words they post, before they post them. You never know who many be part of a certain community, group, religion, or people. It would be unfair to them, and to the uniting force of sport, to shame these people for who they are. Sports are for everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, status. etc., or at least should be. So in conclusion let us keep this forum a fun, open, exciting, excepting space for all users and sports fans to enjoy, so that there has to be no more Jamel’s.