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Michelle Pemberton / The Indianapolis Star
Darnell "Dynasty" Young, (left),high fives his twin brother Darrell Young (right), as his mother Chelisa Grimes watches. Dynasty, a gay student at Arsenal Tech High School, is on suspension and faces possible expulsion after using a stun gun to scare off a group of six kids who used gay slurs and threatened to attack him on campus.
A gay teenager who said bullying drove him to bring a stun gun to school -- and fire it in the air when he felt threatened -- may be expelled, a local media report says.
Darnell “Dynasty” Young, 17, was facing daily harassment from bullies at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis who would taunt him, throw rocks and bottles at him and follow him home, according to the Indianapolis Star. A rumor also was spread that he performed sex acts in the bathroom. At one point, Young contemplated suicide.
"God gave me this life," Young said to the newspaper. "I love life. I'm trying to be strong.”
After reporting the bullying to the school more than 10 times, his mother, Chelisa Grimes, said she gave him a stun gun for protection, because school authorities weren’t doing enough.
"It has been a nightmare," Grimes told the newspaper. "I'm trying to fight for my baby's education."
Principal Larry Yarrell said the school had tried to look into the bullying reports, but Young was not always able to identify all of those who had harassed him. He said they had interviewed staff and students.
The school had been trying to help Young, who transferred there last year, Yarrell said, by recommending that he "tone down" his accessories.
"If you wear female apparel, then kids are kids and they're going to say whatever it is that they want to say," Yarrell told the newspaper. "Because you want to be different and because you choose to wear female apparel, it may happen. In the idealistic society, it shouldn't matter. People should be able to wear what they want to wear."
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But, they weren’t trying to place the blame on Young for the bullying, he said.
Young said the harassment escalated on April 16, when a group of students encircled him at school and threatened to beat him up. Then he took the stun gun, which he had stashed in his backpack for a few weeks, and fired it off in the air. The students dispersed, but within minutes, school police had arrested Young -- who was later suspended.
Stun guns are not allowed at school in Indiana and it is a misdemeanor to give a stun gun to a minor.
An expulsion meeting was held on Wednesday before an independent arbitrator who will decide if Young can stay at the school. A decision was expected within a few days, the newspaper said.
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For everyone recommending that this boy just dress like a boy...
His choice in dressing like a girl or whatever is expressly defended by... what? what was that? Oh yes -- The first Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Being gay is not easy in the slightest. When you're an outcast -- and being further made an Outcast by your bigoted peers, you tend to hold onto and reinforce what makes you different. Whenever did a strong person ever bow down for what he believed because some tool got uncomfortable at looking at him/her?
Peace and love man. peace and love.
Kids don't have the same rights as adults. What they eat, wear, say, go, do, etc... is the responsibility of their parent or guardian. This kids mom failed him.
great and if he goes back to school the bullies will know he is unarmed. Way to go douchecanoe school system. (golf clap)
Let's look at that logic. If black males didn't commit so many crimes, people wouldn't assume that they are a bunch of criminals, either. So the bullying of blacks males as criminals is brought on by black males and is okay. But of course, not to them, because they are a special case. They get to rationalize their bullying.
I'm black, female and gay, by the way, and I'm just sick of the black community's rationalization of anti=gay violence.
The principal: How many complaints does it take before he takes action? Can you imagine reporting a crime to the police - and they tell you that your complaint will be held until you accumulate 10??? Even if this kid was able to identify only 1 - that 1 should have been dealt with. Sounds to me like the principal dismissed the kid's complaints with a dose of malice.
The kid: He probably didn't report all of the bullies as maybe some of them were not the actual bully. Maybe he knew some of the tag-a-longs were there just trying to look cool - or maybe trying not to be bullied themselves by looking like they 'supported' it. In any case, take off the gloves. Just because you are effeminate - doesn't mean you can't hit back. Nothing scares a bully more than getting his butt whipped by a drag queen. And, while I hate to say it, school won't be the last place you will run into bullies. Self-defense will become a requirement.
The twin brother: So where is the twin brother in all of this?? Same age.
The mother: Understandably she wants to protect her kid - but c'mon lady - you don't throw a gun (stun or otherwise) into the fray. And what happens if the bully gets the stun gun in his hands??? If the school administration won't act - go file a complaint with the police on every single one of the kids. Lastly - have you got a phone? Just about every kid has a parent - make the call!
I think the kid should be suspended because he broke the rules but an expulsion is not warranted. After 10 complaints you'd think the school could have done something. The few bullies that the kid identified should be suspended too. And it shouldn't matter what the kid wears to school, bullying is just wrong!!
I always said, if you want to stop being bullied then fight back...if you play the role of the victim all the time then guess what forever a victim you will be.....i could honestly care less if he is gay or not but i do like the fact that at least he stood up for himself, although i highly recommend some training in stun gun operations or learn how to use my fists like i had to do.granted he did break the rules but rules be damned when it comes to self defense..
the plain simple fact is that bullies have and will always be around due to human nature but i will be dammed if I never fought back...you will be amazed what that one time that you stood your ground does for your self confidence
GOOD FOR HIM! Ditch that School for IDIOTS.There's other ways of getting an education without all the STUPIDITY AND THE IGNORANCE!
Are these administrators on crack? They shouldn't be telling this kid to tone it down as long as he is behaving appropriately and respectful of those around him - nothing he was doing was harming anyone, and that's the standard. They're actually doing the bullies a disservice when you come right down to it - teaching them that it's ok to pull this antisocial bs anytime someone presses their comfort zones. Way to foster idiocy and nurture children into adults with no coping skills whatsoever.
This kid fired a stun gun into the air after coming under repeated physical threats. Are the kids who created the threat being expelled?
The kid should have actually tased one of the other kids, then gotten a medal for being an upstanding student. When the shocked teenager came out of his stupor of being shocked, he should have been suspended, and talked down to about how ignorant his choices are.
Seems harsh, but stupid people who think popularity mocking, or biased mocking is acceptable, need to be shown through strict academic repercussions that taunting and mocking is not an acceptable way to pass the time. Any kid found to have been mocking another student should immediatedly be sent home, and if they persist, they should be failed the entire year, forcing them to re-take their year again next year. They could always move schools, but the new schools should be made aware of the reason for being kicked out, and they should be strictly watched as well. If a student wants to make it through school, they should concentrate on their boring, tedious, mind numbing school work, and not on how different or weird their fellow school mates are.
Instead of a stun gun, mom should have bought him martial arts lessons. Maybe Chuck Norris or Steven Segal could stop by and give the kid a few pointers. If you are going to get suspended / expelled for fighting (even if it is in self defense), you may as well get in a few good licks. If the bully knows that there will be severe resistance EVERY time, he just might realize the error of his ways.
After reading all the comments left on here - I would really like to know how people draw their ridiculous conclusions. The article states:
"The school had been trying to help Young, who transferred there last year, Yarrell said, by recommending that he "tone down" his accessories.
"If you wear female apparel, then kids are kids and they're going to say whatever it is that they want to say," Yarrell told the newspaper. "Because you want to be different and because you choose to wear female apparel, it may happen."
How does "women's apparel" automatically equate to wearing a dress? Because that's all women ever wear...dresses? Women's apparel can mean anything from a darted blouse/shirt to a bunch of bangle bracelets or earrings, a scarf to yes, a skirt. Let's not all jump to the conclusion that he was running around school in a ball gown. The administrator originally stated that the victim was asked to tone down his "accessories".
Was the kid wrong to bring a gun, stun or otherwise, to school? Yes. Was the mother and the victim finally driven to the edge of frustration by a lack of accountability by the school - and decided to try to take care of the matter themselves? That's what it looks like to me. I would have gotten the cops involved - but without actual physical assault occurring - I'm not sure the cops would have been of any assistance at all.
When you have children being raised by people PAID to take care of them - everyone looses out. This is 3 generations of daycare babies and broken families in a society awhirl with every upside down taboo smack right in its face. Everyone needs to decide what life is truly for and who they truly are. No government or authority can make people be good. that comes from Leaders and Parents and People who live by Right action, and not only lead by example, instill a positive peer pressure which makes even the most lowliest , debased, degenerate person, to try and toe the line and live in goodness - at least it isn't legal and acceptable behavior. We have degenerates with wrong action now in all positions of authority...just what do you think will be the outcome?
The person who is not willing to stand up for himself/herself might not deserve defending. If you have bullies amongst you, do your best to take some martial arts or self defense training; and do not be timid about using that training against bullies. You might be surprised how little use you will have for it after you have successfully defended against a bully once of twice. Often just being willing to take a self defense stand for yourself, even if you lose the bought, will get you some respect Some acts are worth the consequences.
Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!!! Look at how violence has negatively impacted the world and all its cultures.
well, ms. mac, you are the kind of person who would have tried friendly tet-a-tet efforts with Hitler, Stalin, and people of that ilk. of course your efforts would have netted you nil except probably got your butt kicked around a lot.
Okay, so there should be consequences for bringing a stun gun to school. However, I think BULLYING should be a reason for expulsion.
Gender freedom, including form of dress, should not be a reason to be bullied. When will all parents start to teach their kids kindness, generosity, and open-mindedness. I'm sick of this!
stupid idea to bring a weapon of any type to school. i dont care what the reason is...so does this mean every kid who gets bullied should start bringing weapons onto campus? Dont even think about telling me its a special case because he is gay or whatever rules are rules. If it is okay for him, then it should be okay for everyone..and before you know it we will have kids killing kids on campus more and more.
I do think it is a shame that he has been mistreated by his peers, but the law is the law and no minor should be carrying a weapon anyway PERIOD dont give me ignorant "he deserved to defend himself" arguements. In this world of technology, whether you are gay or straight, there are OTHER WAYS to defend yourself you just have to use your brains.
Bullying isnt going to stop..and although it should be stopped and people should be proactive in their attempts to curve it, people have to find intelligent ways to battle against those who are not intelligent enough to be respectful of those who are different...if this cant be done then people like this young man have to make that choice to decide when or where it is appropreate and safe to conduct the affairs that bring this kind of attention... Putting yourself out there when you know what the repercussions are means that even though they are the wrong ones..you yourself are aware of the consequences that puts some of the responsibility on you.
A good example..if you are a woman surrounded by men that you know are perverts and rapists..do you enter that crowd wearing a string bikini? Just because you SHOULD be allowed to without being attacked does NOT mean that it is a smart idea ..and if its not a smart idea..why the hell would you do it? USE YOUR BRAINS!
Sure! I should be able to walk down the street without a shirt on and not be made fun of because of my hairy chest, but AS AN INTELLIGENT PERSON I know that I will be made fun of maybe even BULLIED for it..so using MY BRAIN I choose not to do that ..and guess what?! I dont get made fun of for my hairy chest...because I USED MY BRAIN and made a SMART choice. Yes it sucks that I cant just do what i want without being judged or picked on, but since I cant stop it or control it..i choose to tone down my shirtless habit to lesson my chances of getting picked on...DO I HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT ANY CLEARER?!
One may be born gay, a woman in a man's body, whatever. However the clothes you wear are a choice. This kid wasn't born with women's clothes, he chose to wear them.
If you defend his choice to wear women's clothes would you also defend someone's choice to wear KKK robes or a swastika? You may say, "but those things are offensive." Well, to many a man wearing women's clothes is offensive. You don't get to pick what people are offended by.
I haven't kept exact figures on the matter over my past 75 years but I estimate that 90% of the bullies in the world are cowards who have not yet had their @ss stomped into the ground. That remaining 10% seem to be mental cases that nothing humane will change--but we don't know till we've tried.
Oh please, what drama and BS. Next time he takes the .38 Mommy Dearest gave him and shoots that thing. What a joke. Did not see the race card yet but, I am sure, one of the holy brothers will add his crap to the story to make it another black and white issue.
Next thing, there will be a law suit for MONEY.
So tired of this stuff.
don't worry about your baby's education. it aint gonna need no education in the ghetto. all you have to do to ensure your baby's future is keep on voting for the progressives (democrat and republicans) who will keep them welfare benefits a'comin.
He goes out of his way to draw attention to himself then complains that people don't accept him. This guy is destined for free college, special treatment and welfare for life. Nothing more than a burden on society while he addresses his personal issues. Expel him, let mom home school him ( its not like she actually works) and then he can get his welfare check later. Lets restore education as the primary concern of public education. This "special needs' crap is what is distracting away form the primary role of educators.
I don't understand this... The student felt his life was in imminent danger and used non lethal threat to scare away his possible attackers AFTER he had reported this harrasment to the school and now the school threatens to expel him? I smell major lawsuit coming with a huge settlement. I loved the part where the school official tries to shift the blame to the student. Bonehead just dug the schools grave.
Are you like kidding me? Wearing female clothes to school? The mother should be arrested for abuse. The school officials should be fired for allowing this garbage.
The kid who wore the female clothes needs to go into counseling to get his head on "straight"!
Pink Pistols:
"Pick on someone your own caliber"
"Armed gays don't get bashed "
http://www.pinkpistols.org/
So violence is okie dokie in your liberal gay version of the world? That explains a lot of your previous posts. Its a public school, weapons are banned. Take your special needs child to a special needs school.
To..navyvet"""'
You will never get my posts ..shouldn't even try ...
I don't think you ever get your posts. You just spew your biased version of every event. This kids mother should be arrested. I would say arrest his father as well but I think statistics might imply racism. This kid is as nutty as a fruit cake and she gives him a weapon specifically for him to take to school? What a dumb stupid B!tch!!! She shouldn't be raising any kids if she is that stupid.
By your bizzarro logic the kid in California who murdered a gay classmate who was always hitting on him was justified.
"Pink Pistols"... What a joke
To..navy"""
Really and you do what...? too funny.. thanks
Gee I don't have a stun gun to give my kid who is being bullied. Can I give him my uzi to take to school as long as he promises to shoot it in the air? How about a grenade?
To..Capt"""
Where are all those stand your ground proponents now....
Bully for HIM !!! When all else fails, self-defense is the only intelligent option. NEVER roll-over for ignorant, insecure DIPshoots. Kick their asses if you can. Both school admins and law enforcement idiots (BTW: I'm retired LE) are powerless to help, even if they wanted to. Self-empowerment is the only way to survive and remember our (cops on the street) unofficial motto: "Better to be tried by 12, then be carried by 6" !!!
You sound like a fool. Bullying is a normal pack behavior. Just because gays can't deal with it doesn't mean mother nature is going to change. this is not about sexuality, as that is personal, its about mental illness. being bullied is part of everyones life at some point. normal people deal with it and move on. gays scream and yell and tell the national media its a hate crime.
I say replace the school boards in every school in America with local school-aged children who've been bullied.
These cihldren, with the power to hire/replace school principals/superintendents, would have bullying stopped in a matter of days.
Who's with me?
Really? At a school named "Arsenal Tech High School." This makes no sense since they must encourage weapons solely based on their name. So he fired a stun gun in the air. At my kid's schools he'd be done, but at Arsenal Tech - give me a break. He didn't shoot at anyone (even those who deserved to be shot).