It wasn't right for the other kids to harass this kid because he was gay, but a zero tolerance policy on weapons in schools means ZERO TOLERANCE.

It's sad that things had to go this far. Something should have been done about the bullies a long time before things reached this point.

And a ZERO tolerance policy on harassment SHOULD mean the same thing, but it doesn't. Or does this article just fail to include that the bullies that were about to kick his a$$were also expelled??

"It wasn't right for the other kids to harass this kid because he was gay"

it's not harass - they were surrounding him, about to beat the crap out of him, just because of his sexual orientation (or so it appears). I don't condone the use of weapons. But if u use the term "ZERO TOLERANCE" it should also be use on "ASSAULT", much less bullying. The school can keep their suspension, but the mom should sue the failure of the school to keep her child safe. The "GOONS" should also be arrested and prosecuted.

Zero tolerance for Weapons... I can agree with that.

Zero tolerance for Bullying....... I can agree with that.

So far - so good, everyone is on the same page ... school is batting 1000 - High 5's all around!

The kid gets his butt kicked, harrassed for weeks, does the right thing by NOT fighting back reports the problem to adults; his mother, school administration, teachers ... gets authorities involved. Oops - there is a procedural problem, since he can not identify all of them, they don't think they can arrest, detain or confront any of them?

The kid does something stupid, brings in a non-lethal simulated weapon, in an effort to prevent increasing hostilities (acknowledged by school authorities). But now, the can act even though the the weapon was NOT used against the bullies?

Now ..., Can anyone tell me whats wrong with this picture?

the most damage wasn't done by the stun gun. it wasn't done by the bullies. The worst damage was done by he @!$%#s who supposedly run the school and let kids suffer for their own stupid prejudices. You can't convince me that the principal would have protected this kid if he had had video and sworn statements. HE should be arrested.

The bullies get off scott free and the victim is punished. He did the right thing by standing up to the bullies. His mistake was in not getting each one of them off on their own away from the gang and kicking their butts. Bullies are generally cowards on their own.

They threatened to beat him up, that is assault in and of itself. To actually hit him would be considered battery. The cops should have been arresting these "people" long before this happened.

How do you "fire" a stun gun "into the air"? A stun gun makes an arc of electricity between two contacts. If it isn't making contact with a body, it's pretty much harmless unless you happen to be pumping gasoline at the time. If it does make contact it will put you on your a$$ but even then it's effect is no different than a taser. If he was going to get expelled, he might just as well have used it. Somebody would have learned a lesson.

JS "No one had laid a hand on him when he fired the gun. He reacted to what he thought was going to happen, not any actual assault."

translation: it's ok to intimidate/harrass/bully a kid to the point where he THINKS his life is in constant danger...so long as you never actually lay so much as a fingernail on the kid, then this behaviour is ACCEPTABLE and NOT PUNISHABLE.

but not ok to fire a stun gun in the air to scare the crap out of the kids so they leave you alone?

glad im on the same page...lets continue.

"The district did the right thing in expelling him, there is NEVER any excuse for binging a weapon into a school."

but there are always tons of valid reasons to bully a kid into contant fear. gotcha.

"His mother should also be arrested for giving the weapon to a minor. It was completely irresponsible on her part."

but lets not arrest the parents of the piece of crap kids who spend their school hours terrorizing other kids. really, this is fine logic all around.

"They can not fault the school for not punishing the kids who were harassing him when he could not, or maybe chose not to identify the kids."

right, because we dont have PLENTY of examples from other schools, in which the bullies are indentified but still nothing happens...as if this is some precedent where this one kid couldnt id (remember, not some...but ALL of them)

"A student says kids were harassing him but can not say who the kids were, I do not buy it. You usually know pretty much everyone you go to school with unless it is one huge school. I went to a school with over 900 in my graduating class alone and I knew pretty much every one of them. There is little the school can do about the problem if the student can not identify the perpetrators."

sure buddy...i believe ya.

funny, you pointed out "unless its a huge school" but then felt the guilty need to hide your stupidity by following that with saying you went to a school with 900 in YOUR CLASS ALONE, and knew every last one of them?

BULL...complete bs.

but seriously... we wonder why kids show up with REAL GUNS BLAZING?

JS in SD proves why...we dont give a crap about kids being bullied, only those poor kids who bullied him and were "scared when it appeared like they might all get mowed down for being such worthless pieces of crap"...oh those poor bullies, the fear THEY must have felt!

The public school system is a place where children, teachers, and administrators participate in a subculture where bullying and harassment are a standard part of every day.

The administrative mandate is to meet the minimal criteria to receive federal funds and funnel it to uniform suppliers, cafeteria food suppliers, and other supply vendors that are cronies of the elected or appointed members of the school board.

This school, like many others, "are just following orders" like good Nazi's in the American Reich work camps. What could they do?

Encourage every parent with a child that has had an experience like this one to report every incident on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media.

If the number of school violence incidents ran across the bottom of the television screen like the DOW and NASDAQ numbers do, maybe people would care.

pugface,

That is a taser you are thinking of.

So basically what you are saying JS in SD is that in this given situation--the person should have done nothing until actual harm had been done--or am I missing something in your comments?

So given this situation--lets say your mother, sister or daughter was surrounded by a group of men that said they were going to rape or beat her--would this still apply if she had the means to protect herself--or should she have gone through the ordeal before she did anything?

Always some idiot that has to bring race into it.

Hey - the kid dressed like a girl - of course he is going to draw the ire of other kids...the blame is at least 50 / 50...

Keep in mind, as with every story like this, you are getting one side of the story and one side only. Sometimes things look quite different when you hear the other side, too.

America needs to go back to anger management, smoke a peace pipe, put away with social media crap and replace with family time. When there is peace in the family, there is peace within, emotions of hate cannot survive in this kind of atmosphere

Regulars on this site know I'm certainly not even remotely pro-gay; but this young man got screwed. If there was justice done in this case, the bullies would have been expelled, as well as the school administrators who are responsible for protecting all students from them. If this were my kid, I'd sue the hell out of the school district for dereliction of duty miscarriage of justice.

Sad story all around. But there's no circumstance under which a school can tolerate a student bringing a weapon to school. Period.

Far as what the school did or failed to do regarding the bullying, my understanding is that although he complained about being bullied, he didn't identify the bullies. Doesn't make me doubt that he was bullied - unless you were some home schooled freak you know of the peer pressure in school not to be a snitch, and the unfortunate fact that students who snitch often just invite more bullying by painting a target on their back that attracts even more bullies who now all want a piece of the snitch. Unfair, but it is what it is in most schools. So the kid's reluctance to name names is understandable.

But at the same time it's a Catch-22 that binds the school's hands, since there's not much they can do without having names.

God bless this young man. I wish him the best.

Jessica...

THANK YOU! spot on response.

I'm fine with this expulsion, as long as each and every single person that bullied him are expelled for TWICE as long.

What an Excellant school district and State zero tolerence on a stun gun, 100% approval of the bullies ... Bullies win!!!

The Superintentdent and School Principle were probably bullies when they were in school, just protecting their own now.

I think the young man should be glad that he did not actually shoot anyone--as he would be probably facing criminal arrest.

Sadly, the administrators can say anything they want, and no one can do anything about it. The young man probably did identify several of the bullies, and the administrators are just lying. The phrase here is "not always able to identify" and "all" who harrassed him. That means he did identify some of them, and apparently, nothing was done. That is, the administration is weasel-wording its way out, saying that it couldn't punish one kid without punishing all of the kids who were involved. The child who was harrassed has to consistently name everyone involved--how many kids are in that school? Does he know them all by name?

The only successful strategy for this that I have seen is to send an email to the principal and CC several other people in the administration with names and dates and descriptions of events. Then, there is a paper trail that the administration does not control. The administration loves bullies--they get rid of anyone who doesn't conform. It is the reason bullies are condoned in prisons, also--most schools for poor children are essentially juvenile prisons, not schools, because the administrators make more money by warehousing rather than educating the students.

This young man looks old enough to study on his own--I don't think his mother will face any charges if he is left home alone. He needs to get on the online websites--Hippocampus, MIT Opencourseware, edX when it opens--and start to study for his GED. If possible, she might look into what services are available to children who have been expelled--and she might appeal it (the state superintendent can often overturn an expulsion).

But, yes, since he is nonconforming to the administration's idea of what students should wear (students should be able to wear whatever they like within the dress code--it is no one's job to enforce conformity), he's better off just staying at home and studying for his GED. Heck, if that school is as lousy as I would guess it is from the location, he's probably better off now that he can just stay home and study on his own. A GED is just as good as a high school diploma--and he can get his revenge by studying on his own, doing extremely well on his ACT, and showing that people are better off not even going to that school.

I do wish him well--but, yes, mom should have looked into all her options. I know she is probably glad to have him home in one piece rather than being in a position to sue the school system for not intervening before her son was beaten to death--I'm glad that didn't happen--but she had other options that she should have pursued rather than the stun gun.

Agree with you, too, Jessica.

The article doesn't say what kind of stun gun it was, it could have been more of a taser than anything that actually shot something.

Why would you want your kid in a school where a student felt the need to take their safety into their own hands instead of relying on school staff for help?

It would seem most of you believe you should wait until a threat becomes an actual situation before taking action. For this kid - it was a situation.

So next time a gun is pulled on a woman and a man rips off her clothes and threatens to rape her - well, she should just relax and wait for him to actually do it before stabbing him with the knife in her hand, right? I mean, he isn't raping her yet, just threatening to.

Or how about a cop with a gun pointed at him. Should he wait until there's a bullet in his head? Or a soldier, should he wait until he's missing all his limbs?

You people have some serious issues with reality. Get out of that cul-de-sac and learn how the real world operates before making asinine statements. Saying this kid should have waited for 'x' to happen is ridiculous. By that point it may be too late.

I guess you'd rather wait for the burger to break in and kill your family before that police stop him...

I feel that everyone has the RIGHT to carry a consealed weapon for PROTECTION and he certainly should have been carrying. I bet those bullying all own guns to back up their bullying they normally do.

Why should he be suspended? According to the police, a tazer or stun gun is non-lethal, they even use them on 8 year-olds in Oklahoma and 73 year-old grandmas in Texas. But, should someone use it to defend themselves, it's dangerous and lethal and said person should be locked up.

The kid should have tasered them. The attacks would have stopped and I am certain that anyone in that situation could not give less of a dam* about a school suspension. I am not pro gay, but the kid has every right to defend himself and I can't think of a jury anywhere that would convict him.

The correct response to school bullies is not to confront them on school grounds with a stun gun. The correct response is to confront them off school grounds with a 2x4.

Carolyn Laub, Executive Director of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, denounced the district's decision

Did not expect anything less from people like you, Carolyn. I am sure your denunciation will carry a lot of weight!

“While the district does not condone bullying, it also does not allow weapons to be brought on our school campuses for any reason"

Makes good sense... So what did the school authorities do about the bullies?

John Doe -- nice drama but what you described was an assault the second the gun was pulled ... exactly this situation in reversed - you already defeated your point. So as soon as your assailant pulled that gun it was no longer a threat but an assault.

R-Sticker -- love the sentiment - I am a card holding memebr of the NRA, however, at what age does "everyone" get that right? I'm not sure I want a child going to school with a weapon ... I also, especially don't want a bullied kid going to school with a weapon. As I've said many times in this blog already -- I was bullied and beaten often in school. I know the rage. By not being allowed to carry a weapon to school it not only protected the bullies but it protected me and many other students that were purely innocent. If I were allowed to carry a weapon at some point it would have been used and when you are harrassed and pushed to that point, you don't think, you don't look around, you don't care - innocent people get hurt. Instead of a family and job and freinds, I would probably still have a 6' x 8' concrete home.
I do believe we have the right to bear arms and protect ourselves NOT send armed kids to school so they don't get picked on -- and before anyone says it -- using the term "picked on" is not inetended to minimize. I lived it, I had bruises over 50% on my body, there wasn't a day I didn't fear going to school but handing a kid a weapon, a kid that will use that weapon when he is least stable is a stupid idea at best.

Dress for attention and that's what you'll get... I think it's a little odd that he couldn't identify the bullies... The kids who were bullying him were in the wrong, but so was he. I support the school expelling him. Why should other people's kids be in danger because some of the kids are harassing him? Get the police involved, tell your kid to spit out the names of the bullies, transfer your kid to another school, get outsiders involved... Don't give the kid a weapon. Idiot.

This is wrong in so many ways!

The child was told to "tone down" the way he was dressing but yet is that a school policy? Did he break any school rules because of his choice of how he dressed? Had he actually "toned down" his way of dressing when confronted by the bullies that day?

He had told school officials about being bullied prior to this incident but because he couldn't identify "all" of the kids involved they didn't do anything about it? Not even to the one (s) that he did identify? Whats wrong with that statement and better yet the "school officials"?

Although I do not condone his bringing to school and then using the stun gun I believe the child and parent in this case was left without any recourse or choice in the matter as to how to keep this child safe in their minds, remember that the child was "surrounded by bullies" and thus not able to seek help!

The child that was being bullied and who was scared big time by this event did what he had to do to defend himself without actually harming anyone else!! (which by itself is a good thing!) but yet "he was "expelled" and the culprits or "bullies "walked", Whats wrong with this picture I ask you?

Yeah, he didn't do everything perfectly right (by school standards anyways) but the school dropped the ball big time and at this poor kids expense, sadly. Now how will this child learn anything while being expelled until Jan 7, 2013? not to mention maybe being held back a grade because of his absence etc?

To punish the "Victim" but not the "aggressor" is RIDICULOUS period.

And that's my 2 cents on all of this which is all this school is worth!

Regulars on this site know I'm certainly not even remotely pro-gay; but this young man got screwed. If there was justice done in this case, the bullies would have been expelled, as well as the school administrators who are responsible for protecting all students from them. If this were my kid, I'd sue the hell out of the school district for dereliction of duty miscarriage of justice

And not in a good way... OK, crude and rude...

but it does illustrate the common opinion that gays are "asking for it"... I don't think that is true. It depends on whether they know who they are and find acceptance among their real friends.

We had a kid who ran with when we were kids- he was gay, but no one knew it - or even suspected it, maybe he didn't even know?

Years later, I was visiting in my old home town and me and few of the other ruff necks ran into him, got to talking about old time, then went to a bar to have a few drinks...

Pretty soon some stray idiot thought it was his business to tell us about the "orientation" of our freind. After we kicked this idiot's ass... our old friend told us it was true, he was batting for the other team.

After a bunch of stupid questions - the main point from one of the guys was if he swung that way... why didn't he help a friend out instead of giving it away? (he was teasing - at least I think he was? Matter of fact, if I was putting money on who might be "most likely to succeed" - I might have chosen him first... ya' never know?)

The point is... he was still our freind. don't know if at 14, 15 years old we would have been mature enough to handle that revelation.

I guess it depended on "How gay" he was? All gays are no more the same as all straights are the same.

I applaud the kid for not shooting anyone. It seems clear that he did not want to harm another student despite the harm that had been done to him. However, given the history of violence in our schools (i.e., Colombine, etc.) we simply cannot allow any students to bring weapons to school or allow them to discharge them. Having said that, I agree that it DOES seem odd that the police were right there to arrest the student once he fired the stun gun and were nowhere around for the bullying.

Looks like a win for the bullies this time. I don't condone bringing any sort of weapons to school but punishing the victim and doing nothing to the bullies is a backwards step in a time when kids are killing themselves left and right because of bullying.

Blame the victim, of course.

The ONLY one affected was the kid who was kicked out. the Stun gun hurt no one.

it's pretty scummy but the only time blacks can get support from whites is when it advances their politics.

I'm very sorry you feel that way. I'm white and I personally believe in supporting rights and justice for anyone regardless of color-and I don't really care about advancing any particular politics.

@JS in SD - do you know the definition of assault? HINT: you don't have to touch someone to assault them...that's called battery. Assault is causing someone to fear harm...and in the case of surrounding someone and threatening to kick their ass, that WOULD be assault.

Ryan - A stun gun and a taser are two separate things. A taser fire two darts connected by wire to the hand-held unit where an officer can control the duration of the shock. A stun gun (I own two of these) does not fire any sort of projectile. It's a contact-only self defense weapon that must have both of its electrodes pressed against your assailant while you are pressing the button that sends the electric shock. I dislike the use of the word "gun" as there are no bullets, beanbags, or M&Ms that penetrate the perpetrator, only about 50K volts to help him get his mind right.

Our dirty little secret here in America is that the "bullies" are very often the popular and athletic kids. Sure people want to imagine it's some evil, mean outcast that pokes and prods the victim, but more often than not it's the head cheerleader or star quarterback.

Then there are the kids that go along with the bullying so as not to become targets themselves. This both condones and to a certain extent encourages the bullying behavior since there is very little negative social preasure placed on the bullies.

With this in mind it is not shocking at all when the victim of the bully is blamed and is the one facing discipline when s/he reacts to being harassed.

He said they had interviewed staff and students, and he had also recommended that Young “tone down” his accessories.

This to me is the most telling part of the article. The principle suggested that the victim "tone down" his accessories. In other words he was telling him "You're bringing this on yourself, so just dress and act like all the other kids and you'll be fine."

So the school kicks him out for firing a stun gun at the ceiling to scare off a crowd of bullies. My question is, what kind of investigation is being done to locate a take action against these bullies. My guess is none.

The key here is don't bring a weapon to school. I used to carry a gym bag with a 12 inch long 7/8 inch drill bit in the bottom and i never carried anything else in it. It was not a "weapon" but you wouldn't want to get hit with it.

They expelled a teen for bringing a WEAPON TO SCHOOL. The teen happened to be a Gay Teen. Personally, any Guy that shows up in High School wearing "Girls Clothes" is asking and inviting trouble. Some may call what happens as a result "Bullying" but I call it stupidity on the part of the teen.

Just further confirmation that our public school system is an obvious failed system. When you go to a public school your main focus and desire is to get home without being killed or beat up in school. Forget learning anything - just look around and see the dimwits (aka "occupy") who are "graduating" but yet some can't read and many have no skills that the private sector needs. I homeschooled both of my children and both are very successful young individuals. One with a masters degree and is an Electrical Engineer and the second ready to graduate with a Bachelors degree from a well respected college. My belief is any parent who allows their children to go to a public school should be arrested for child abuse and child endangerment. Our school system is pathetic and this example is just further confirmation........

Beoweolf

brings in a non-lethal simulated weapon

There is nothing "simulated" about a stun gun, it is a weapon by every definition. As for 'non-lethal', that is it's design yes, but that only means it is not designed to be lethal, they can and sometimes do cause fatalities. This is one reason they should not be allowed on a school campus by non-security personnel, period. The school did the right thing in expelling this kid. As for the bullies, if it can be shown that they did bully the kid then they too should be expelled.

He brought a weapon to school and was expelled, he's lucky he didn't spend time in jail. He was expelled for the weapon, not because he was Gay or bullied. The Principal gave the young boy some sound advice knowing he couldn't be everywhere all the time. The Principal was trying to prevent the boy from being injured and that is why he was ask to "Tone down" you dress. Any Boy showing up at school wearing girls clothes is asking for trouble. Is it right,NO: but it is going to happen. This boy was asking for trouble and apparently he got his wish. This looks like Mom looking out for some "Easy Money".

The "school officials" and the cops are protecting their cushy jobs by NOT Identifying the Bullies. They see it easier by "gettin' rid of the trouble makin' faggot". What if one of the bullies parents or both have great influence on the school board???? the principal gets canned and so does the cop for Rounding Up, the perp bullies and prosecuting them; As They Most Certainly Should Do. Face it Folks, The WHOLE SYSTEM Is Due for A Big Change. At the bottom of it All? There IS 20% Unemployment, $h!tty low low pay $h!T demeaning "jobs" with No New skill retraining paid for BY OUR GOVERNMENT to Subsidize and Help New Industries to be started HERE. Oooh!!??!!, but it is OK for $3Trillion Dollar Wars demanded by aipac and israel.....

Funny article, Funny responses, Im still livin in the seventies.

As someone who actually lives in Indianapolis there are very definitely two sides to this story! First of all, Dynasty is a black male and in the area he lives and the school he attends, he is truly lucky to have escaped all this with his life. That locality and mentality simply will not accept a gay black male. No, he does not wear dresses to school. He is not transgender! What he is though is flamboyant! For those who have ever seen Glee, Dynasty is much like the character Kurt. Not only in the manner of dress but in the talent too. Dynasty is extremely talented in music and dance and he really deserves to be in a special school for the talented in the performing arts. However he does not come from a wealthy home. He does come from a home that has a supportive mother though and one who wants what we all want for our children. A safe place to go to school. Indy public schools are anything but safe! Certainly not for a gay black student. If he was a punk doing hip hop, he would stand a better chance or out shooting hoops or on the football team but instead he isn't. He has the gall to be gay and proud of himself. The principals in the schools here will not tell the students wearing the pants hanging at their knees to dress differently so why should Dynasty have to? These schools have police officers in them. Tell the principals and other admins to get off their lazy backsides and get out of their offices and be in the hallways to see things are safe. For the most part, they are hiding in fear of the bullying students.

By the way, I am a white parent of white students who were bullied badly in the township schools in Indy and the principals there had the same attitude. It is always the victims fault and the admins were terrified of the students who were bullied. The principals would never do anything except hide behind locked doors and play on the computer in their office. Unless you know the area and the attitude, don't judge Dynasty. He is lucky he is alive and hopefully he remains that way.....

The school did something right, they had police on the scene, next time maybe they can have smart cops and arrest the bullies instead of the victim!! Getting arrested for protecting yourself, must be some new educational doctrine or system of learning.

And while the school used the excuse that he couldn't identify all of the bullies to not make any arrests, it never occurred to school officials or police that the ones that witnessed him waving his stun gun were the bullies.

"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
"And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." Romans 1:24-27

In this case the school system has badly failed Dynasty all the way around. So what if he dresses flamboyantly? So what if he's gay? No child should be bullied in school and no bullies should be allowed to get away with harassing and threatening other kids!

I was a small kid, mixed-blood Indian, and the child of divorced parents in the South in the 1960's. I was reading at age 4 and my grandmother used poker cards to teach me how to add and subtract before I ever hit kindergarten. I spent all of my time around my grandparents, great-aunts, great-uncles, and great-grandmother. Suffice it to say that I had a totally different world-view than my peers when we entered kindergarten and that's where it started...the bullying.

I dealt with it by hitting back. In fact I learned how to fight dirty at a very early age. I hit first, fast, hard, and low, kicked, bit, scratched, gauged, threw dirt up in their faces...and made sure that they thought twice about trying to physically threaten or harass me. It did not stop the verbal harassment and bullying and that's the stuff that hurts the worst. Rumors, inuendos, taunts... all passed around at light speed. I learned to not show how much it hurt, to look as if my hide was like 2-inch steel plate, but it still affected me.

And yes it's the "popular" kids who tend to be the worst bullies.

My self esteem was pretty low for most of my youth and young adulthood. I ran away from home several times. And yes, I thought about committing suicide. Not because I wanted to die but because I wanted to quit hurting.

For all the bullied kids out there, hang in there. It DOES get better. Use the pain to become stronger and realize that it gives you the ability to understand why people should treat each other with kindness and compassion, why every thought, word, and action should be made to encourage, heal, and help another person. Find your talents, your strengths, and use them to make a life that you love. You ARE somebody special already. Feel free to ask the police department about their self-defence classes (which are usually free). You'd be surprised at how it can build your confidence. And it sure doesn't hurt to make friends with a few cops, either.

I hope Dynasty gets the chance to find a school where he can really shine and be the great person he is destined to be. And if he becomes famous and successful, that will be the best paybacks he can give to those idiots who have been bullying him as well as the lilly-livered school adminstration and school board who haven't done a damn thing about the mean kids.

Timothy1Mil -- Learn to stay on topic. This isn't about your interpretation of one small part of the bible, but about bullying; and from your comment I would conclude that you're totally fine with it. No school should tolerate bullying regardless of the reason for the harrassment. Although I agree with the "no weapons" policy, the school does not seem to address the cause of the problem effectively. The bullies should be kicked out, whether or not the victim can identify them all. Possibly he was afraid to identify them for fear of repercussions (as in more severe bullying).

That'll learn him to get outta hand and pop off.

Expel all the miscreants that can be "convicted" by whatever standards and processes they have in their rules. The only complaint that this Dynasty kid could possibly have is if it can be proved that he was bullied and they take no action. But even if they don't treat the bullies appropriately, that doesn't get Dynasty reinstated. Two wrongs do not make a right.

And BTW, when he comes back to school, unless he's a damned idiot he will take the helpful advice to "tone it down" because his next stop could well be the morgue. You can rail all you want about how unfair it is but that will not bring him back from the dead. Cold comfort indeed to be "dead right."

wow probuisness it is incredible how you fit in a rant on occupy on this thread. i see people everyday fitting bull in but thats too funny. the only people that couldn't read and write at my high school were some jocks who they let slide by because of athletics. then they go on to nice schools because of their athletics and who their parents are. you sound very stuck up an elite to me. you need a reality check. it often times takes more then a good education to get into college. I venture to say your kids had a lot of oppurtunities that others don't have. your type disgusts me.

having said that, i feel for this kid or any kid bullied. i saw a lot of bullying growing up but was never bullied myself. i tended to stick up for people when i could because bullies are just cowards really. allison shaw your post was very sweet and accurate. it will get better. MOST people grow out of high school mentality but sadly some adults are just as hateful. gays in this country are discriminated by a lot of adults so of course it will trickle down to the kids. i bet this boy has many talents he could contribute to the world. it is sad that the bullies are never the ones getting expelled or condemned through action, its the victims that do. drastic measures need to be taken in the public schooling system. bullying is going way too far and affecting many young bright students who don't deserve such treatment. he should def. look into online degree programs then go to college where individuality isn't so shunned. educated people tend to be more tolerant than their counterparts. sadly that is only around 30% of the pop. i love college, people mind their own buisness and learn. the way it should be.

lol the school is " ARSENAL TECH" ,so techinically they should be able to carry a arsenal !!! ,the school district sounds more like pansies then the gay guy who was about to get jumped !!!!

So the school held the Victim 'accountablle' and let the bullies who were committing the original crimes to go unaccountable.....the Feds should hold the school accountable then!!!!!!

What ever happened to security at school. In the old days there was a teacher in every hallway, stairwell, and anywhere that students gathered especially, before school, after school and during lunch. Oh yeah, they have defunded the schools to the point that no one is really safe in order to line the pockets of their wealthy friends. Sad isn't it.

The bullies get off scott free and the victim is punished. He did the right thing by standing up to the bullies. His mistake was in not getting each one of them off on their own away from the gang and kicking their butts.

Sentence one response: That's how it always has & will work. Sentence 2: You logic is sorta flawed. Sentence 3. Okay now your logic is fully flawed.

Let us just allow all kids to carry stun guns to school!

Or do we only let gay kids with circumstantial evidence that they are being bullied carry stun guns?

I think it ridiculous that he felt the need to bring a weapon to school if you have a problem with bullies never rely on the school system for help because nine times out of ten they don't do jack @!$%# at least where I live my parents always told me if you are messed with in school try ignoring them first if that doesn't work tell the teachers and principal if that doesn't work fight them but only as a last resort because as soon as you stand up for yourself they back off it is like with lions they pick out the weakest animal in the herd and single it out that is what a group of bullies do to kids or a single bully so if you stand up for yourself they move on to someone who doesn't stand up to them

I think its time the FBI arrest the Administrators of this school, I think the FBI should file Hate Crimes and Civil Rights Violations against the School.

Typical school in a Fundamentalist Reconstructionist State!!!

And thats my opinion.

who said he was a good kid?

Who said he wasn't?

I find it strange that many here want to blame the administration for the kid bringing a weapon to school. Where is the mother's responsibility in this? She bought the weapon and gave it to her son illegally because he is a minor and not supposed to have it to start with. I believe that it is still against the law to sell weapons to minors, and a stun gun is considered a weapon. I have noticed that liberals have a tendency to always blame someone else for their own shortcomings. Would it have been better to arrest every student in school to prevent the ACLU from filing a lawsuit for not being politically correct by profiling individuals? Or would it have been better for someone to retaliate by using a weapon that does more than just stun someone when he/she sees the kid pull out a weapon. For that matter, a Police officer could have mistaken the stunner for a Pistol and by right shot the youngster in self-defense. This surely would have been tragic and everyone on this site would have been railing against the police for brutality. At least the kid was just expelled and no one was hurt. After all, wasn't that the overall objective?

Black Knight " I have noticed that liberals have a tendency to always blame someone else for their own shortcomings."

weird, I always saw their (the bullies) behaviour as THEIR (the bullies) shortcoming.

so if im bullied, I should view that as my own shortcoming?

or if I punch a bully in the face (as many advocate a bullied kid should do, ya know to stand up for themselves and make the bully go away)...is that still my shortcoming, or the bullies?

I get confused?

Was the shortcoming of this kid and mom the fact that she gave him a stun gun and told him "not to hurt anyone, just scare them" the shortcoming you speak of?

maybe she should have given him a real gun, and he should have shot them...and then a REAL LESSON might have been taught?

"thou shalt not bully unless thou wants cap in thy ass"?

@black knight - "That makes sense. You have to remember, he was not attacked, no one swung at him. He just assumed they were threatening him and he fired. Not to say they were innocent, but at that point it is he said/they said. No violence had yet occurred." - interesting comment considering they surrounded him, prevented him from "escaping the situation", which in legal jargon amounts to unlawful imprisonment, and fringes on kidnapping, that is - restricting the free, and untethered movement of any person not lawfully detained.

While I do agree school is no place for weapons, and while I am not a pro-gay advocate, I AM A PRO SELF DEFENSE supporter. Kids don't mob you, surround you, and threaten to kick the hell out of you (which is assault btw) for the sheer shtz and giggles of it. The kid, already being bullied, already "afraid" is not just going to toss the names of the bullies out there. Too many times, and this is a fact, the bullies after being so named, don't go away, they get worse. And the little sideline wanna be bad asses now chime in too on the "faggot snitch". The kid had a right to defend himself, it doesn't make a hill of beans if they threw a punch or not. He had a LEGITIMATE fear for his safety.

If I am walking somewhere, and a gang of people suddenly surround me, you best bet your sweet bippy, I am pullin the pistol and launchin lead. I am NOT waiting to see who swings first, and certainly a "gang" of people decending on you isn't some "lets hold hands and sing kumbaya" clan. The kid shouldn't have fired the stun gun in the air, he should have aimed center mass on the ring leader and juiced his ass. If he was going to get expelled anyhow, he should have made it worth his while. And the ring leader would have a whole new appreciation for 2nd thought.

Certainly, in an ideal world, things like this shouldn't happen. In an ideal world kids would get the discipline they need at home, to learn to be mature, responsible human beings. The courts would hold people fully accountable, and the fear of going to jail would be a deterrent. But, this is the real world, where once again it shows the perpetrators of violence and crime have more rights than those they victimize.

Kudos to the mother for teaching her son to defend himself. And shame on those that think this kid should have just continued to allow himself to be bullied. Tattling doesn't stop the bullying. It only makes it worse. The ONLY THING a bully understands is when it is HIS ASS that gets kicked...

R-sticker,

Please name one Republican, Democrat, Independent or Libertarian that has ever said they want everyone to carry guns with no regulations, along with the date and place of such an utterance.

@ Black Knight: This is not a liberal or conservative issue. This is a human issue. This is a bullying issue (in case you haven't heard, bullies and their victims don't confer on their political views before hand). This is an issue that never seems to be dealt with properly with the school admin. around this country. I agree that the kid should not have had the stun gun, but I am not in his or his mother's position to really say without a doubt that I would not have done the same thing if I felt unable to get the school to take more proactive measures to ensure the safety of my child or the children of other parents. None of us really knows the entire situation, but for you to automatically assume that many of the comments on here are from liberals speaks much about you as a human being. I am hopeful that not all Republicans(assuming you are one) think like you do when it comes to issues like this.

The kids suffering because he wears make-up and girls clothes to High School. I don't think I would call what he is getting from his peers as "bullying" since he is a participant. Good, Bad or whatever, everyone knows from their school days that a boy wearing make-up and dressing like a girl is going to have trouble.

Heck, I got bullied (called names, punches in the kidney as I walked down the hallway) for dressing normal.

At Seven2Seven.

I know you have the right to your opinion, but do you think you could leave your stupidity out of it?

How dare this mother allow her son to defend himself from a group of homophobic thugs!! A smart mother would allow her son/daughter to be brutalized, maimed and then either killed or commit suicide!! That way there could be a huge headline on the news about how tragic of a situation this is and just how avoidable it all was followed by a massive police investigation complete with charges against everyone from the thugs to the thugs parents!! The prison system ever in need of bodies to fill their bunks would be appreciative of this due to the obvious fact that they just love to have visitors come stay at their facilities and guarantee that they will do little but ripen to become repeat customers!

This whole thing would make careers for people in the police department, prosecutors office, judges, parole officers all the way to the senate while at the same time continuing to drill the message into today's youth that the best course of action is to rely on someone or something else to take care of whatever problems you may have!!

At least this young man has learned a lesson about defending yourself and the right to be an individual, don't do it!! Hopefully he can get locked up in the state penal system at some point in the near future and be well on his way to doing his part for the great prison industrial complex that is the United States, he will have to do it alone cause he sure is going to have a hard time procreating and giving fodder for the system if he plans on continuing to have sex with men, men can't have babies without a uterus! (possibly he could adopt a few to raise so they could do their part, if he lives that is)

The law compells the student to a place where he is constantly bullied and harrassed. The mother must comply with the law. It sounds like they have tried to work with the school, to no avail. It didn't say he didn't name ANY harrassers, it says he couldn't name them ALL. So, instead of bringing the full weight of the administration and their zero tolerance bullying program against the KNOWN bullies to set an example, they told the victim to, what was it? "Tone down his accessories"? Yeah, we can see who the bullies are here really. It's the administration.

This is happening everywhere, not just in one particular area. From my own experiences with what's happened to my daughter, schools are an entire culture of bullying that starts at the top.

Bigotry and hatred is typically stemmed from religioius upbringings, especially when it has to come with people of opposing religions and issues of homosexuality. Maybe the mother should have done what the Romans did. Arm the kid with a lion. It took care of the christian infestation for a while.

So true! I had to move down from Alaska on my senior year when my dad retired from the USCG, and went to a high school in Indiana. Everything was very different.

I made several friends who happened to be gay and it's ridiculous how people treat them!! I was also too afraid to reveal I was an atheist, and whenever I did mention it I always got hounded for being a "God-hater" and "devil-child." So many times I got told to go to hell, and the bullying was awful. I got punched once because I said I didn't believe in God. WTF!

While the teachers are nice and for the most part helpful, they did nothing about the bullying. I'm so glad I'm in college now.

I live in indiana and grew up here. It is unfortunate that you had the experiences that you described, but calling the population of an entire state bigoted rednecks makes you just as ignorant as the people who bullied you. The only way any problems involving discrimination will get solved is to stop the stereotyping on both sides of the argument and engage in informed discussion.

Squish, maybe you are part of the reason why. The first thing you did was start by calling others names. you referenced them as Close Minded, Ignorant, Rednecks. I think you are your own worst enemy. Think about that for a minute. To have a dialogue both must be willing to talk. Based on your comments it would appear that you were more interested in name calling than discussion.

Black knight - I have a friend who grew up gay in Indiana, and didnt view her fellow hoosiers as ignorant rednecks.

yet, was still bullied and harrassed all the same.

me thinks you like to do what you accuse the liberals of doing - passing the buck in the blame dept.

the only person to blame for bullying IS THE BULLY. end of story.

just like the girl in the short skirt - NO ONE IS ASKING FOR IT

and if you think otherwise, then the shoot fits your ignorant foot (i only called your foot ignorant, so if you think I did anything more...well then perhaps it fits)

correction - shoe, not shoot.

Black Knight ... just protecting your own now .... I'd not feel bad if these same bullies met up with you when your old and frail, I doubt they'd give you a pass

Gee--Black Knight--I thought it was the "bleeding heart liberals" who insisted that everyone always use non-stereotyping language for all people because each person is a special little snowflake who can't be "labeled."

Look, Squish said that Indiana is an ignorant, close-minded place. A location can be, in general, ignorant and close-minded without each individual person there being ignorant and close-minded. I mean, obviously, Squish was there and didn't have negative ideas about gay people, right? And, we will even note that Squish put double quotation marks around "redneck" to indicate that it was being used as a descriptive term (from which he was distancing himself because this was a word his friends used).

Certain cultures--Islam, radical right-wing Christianity, Africa--aren't very welcoming of gays. They are ignorant--thinking that one can "catch the gay" from being around gay people--and they are close-minded. It's the culture--the place--not the people.

Indiana--in case you did not know--was and probably still is a hotbed of KKK activity. Many people think of that as a Southern phenomenon--but Indiana was a major KKK area. That doesn't happen unless the people in the general area are very amenable to being ignorant and closed-minded. So, yes, it's pretty fair to say that Indiana as a place is ignorant and closed-minded.

Some individual people may be lovely--and they might fight against this tendency--but the fact remains that Indiana was a KKK hotbed not that long ago, and that the people who were involved are in many cases still alive. Their children probably reflect this, as the acorn rarely falls far from the tree. Have a great day.

You Got That Right

Repuicks aka Repubics

So much stupid, so little time.

The whole "you called me a bad name, you're a bad person" thing is getting old. Bigots want to hate "fags" and "homos" and "queers" and whatever else they want to hate. They say that those people are "confused," "lead astray," "possessed," or whatever other justification they have. They don't recognize these people as human, but rather an aberration (or abomination, depending on who you ask), something not-quite-human.

Then, as soon as somebody tells them their actions are bigotted, out comes the butthurt. "You're just as close-minded as you say I am, because you're not willing to see things my way." It's always been a stupid argument, it will always be a stupid argument. You're the ones trying to 'other' people, trying to dehumanize them, trying to justify treating them as second class citizens without the full rights and protections afforded to all our citizens. And yet, you get all up in a tizzy just having it suggested that you're a jerk.

I'll call you a jerk. I'll say it to your face. I'll tell you that you're representing a bigotted stance, that your beliefs have no place in our laws, and that equal protection for others trumps your personal sense of right and wrong. I'll mock you incessantly, treat your arguments with contempt (because, let's face it, they're less arguments than special pleas), and oppose your interests at every place you deviate from being a compassionate, sensible human being. Why? Because I love you*.

Not really. It's because I care about people who have been getting the @!$%# end of the stick for so long, they're often too fearful to even speak up about it.

*Standard Christian rallying call, I guess. "Love the sinner, hate the sin" and all. Bunch of bull@!$%#, if you ask me.

@ Black Knight: God you come off as so condescending. It must be wonderful to be so righteous.

Bean,

Have you lived in indiana in the past? If so, what part? I ask because I can remember the last few annual gay pride parades and black expos held in my state and even my hometown. I can't remember, for the life of me, the last clan rally downtown (or at least the last one that anyone paid any attention to). Maybe that's because the culture you describe was prevalent in the past, but is vastly different than what it is today. As far as i know, most people in indiana are more worried about paying bills and feeding the family than what other people choose to do in the bedroom. Am i saying that there is no racism or bigotry still present in indiana? Not at all. I AM saying, however, that labeling an entire culture as "ignorant and close-minded" based on casual observations and preconceived notions is about as ignorant and close-minded as it gets.

As a Christian, I agree that Christian culture is not generally welcoming to gays; and I am very sorry about that. We, of all people, should be welcoming to everyone! I hate that the Christian church in general has shown so little love. We are taught to love our enemies, of all things, and yet we haven't even loved those near to us. God welcomes everyone, though I have to say that he does not leave us unchanged. I personally came to God because I needed change-I was afraid and lost and I needed to be comforted and found. I needed to be turned inside out and made whole. God does that to those who come to him-we can't expect not to be changed by an encounter with someone like him.

Is it love to let an alcoholic drink himself or herself to death? Is it love to let a loved one eat himself or herself to death? Is it love to watch a child destroy his or her life without saying a word? It's not love to leave someone unchanged who comes to you expecting change. Make no mistake: God is love and he will change you. But he is good.

That is not to say that Christians should not love someone who comes to us not wanting change. We have failed horribly in this area. We have a responsiblility to love whether or not a person wants change, and that is where we need to work with the gay community, as many do not want to change.

The kid renames himself "Dynasty",uh, that may actually be part of the problem. It sounds like he let his firelight shine bright, painted himself up fierce as a sparkling little diva, and the principal asked him to "tone it down", and he could not remember who his taunters were.

I am so glad I am not a school principal these days. Little Johnny wants to wear his pink tutu and high heels to school but don't you dare let any other boys lay a finger on him while the other 1000+ students are milling about in the hallways doing their own things, like skipping class and giving lip to the teachers. Turn your back for 2 seconds to correct some other discipline problem and now Johnny is in tears because you failed to protect him as someone insulted his tutu and kicked at his heels. How impossible it must seem to try to teach these kids to be little groomed adults and overlook all this glitter nonsense when half the nation of real adults could never handle it.

I also wonder how many passes this boy makes to the other boys in the restrooms, assuming they have yet to rebuild the building with special comodes to accomodate him. His mother should move him to a much smaller, much more specialized alternative school equipped with teachers who are educated in this area, and students who share his cute diva traits, rather than send him to public school with a weapon.

That's great bill, but what about the bullies that purportrated this kid feeling it necessary to bring that stun gun to school in the first place? Why are they not being punished as well?

doesnt matter what if he brought a real gun?? then what its okay to prtoect yourself which being harrassed by WORD MERE WORDS!!! when a weapon can really do some damage. All he has to do is ignore these people! or report to the teacher everyday! or better yet take picture of these so called bullies and post their face on facebook!! not bring a weapon to school.

The kid got what he deserve just because your gay and people make fun of you, makes it alright to bring a weapon, also what if someone stole that stun gun and used it on someone else?? then what??

So, Bill,

If the Administration of the School will not help protect against Hate Crimes, what then?

Its time the FBI arrest the Administration of that School on Hate Crimes, and Civil Rights violations.

And thats my opinion.

The article said he's been reporting it. Nothing was being done. Do you really think they would have ever helped him? I was in a school where girls were being beaten while the principal and vice principal were walking by. They didn't stop it. They just continued walking. Do you really think any amount of complaining will stop it when officials refuse to see it?

Magnum "If the Administration of the School will not help protect against Hate Crimes, what then?"

Home school?

Didn't you read the article..."Principal Larry Yarrell earlier 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."

Darnell could not point out the culprits? Who was the Admin supposed to protect him from? He could not tell them, are they supposed to guess?

not always able to identify all of those who had harassed him.

Arsenal Tech is a big high school. It appears that the school authorities were taking the approach that if he couldn't identify every one of his assailants then they wouldn't take any action against any of them, including the ones he could identify.

Typical. I grew up in Indiana a long time ago, and it seems things haven't changed a bit.

Sandollar~ People like you need to use your brains. The school is either lying about trying to find the bullies, or Darnell was too scared to point them out. Come on, I don't know if you have ever been bullied before, but you know who is bulling you. What were they wearing ski masks?

If administration knew this was happening, but the victim could not name the individuals then they should have kept an eye on the victim to catch the bullies in the act and then grabbed a few witnesses so it would not be a he said/she said thing at all.

@ Risha "The school is either lying about trying to find the bullies, or Darnell was too scared to point them out"

I agree, Darnell was probably too scared to point them out but that does not give him the right to bring a gun (stun) to school. EVERYBODY knows you don't bring a weapon to school PERIOD.

@Crystal said, " then they should have kept an eye on the victim to catch the bullies in the act" Yea cause with (I don't know 600-1,000) students they can follow just one around based on his testimony of harassment?

It boggles my mind that there would not be ONE witness to any of the harassing that Darnell said took place? Not to say it didn't happen but where are the witnesses?

NO Weapons but bullies ... nah their ok ... and it was just some black sissy kid ... what's everyone upset about?

@ Sandollar89: I don't know where you went to school, but most kids don't rat each other out for fear of it coming back on them. That is the way it is. And, your last sentence clearly says that you question the kid. There are campus' all over and most of them have a "bully group" that sticks together and the other kids will steer clear and will not come forward if they have witnessed bullying. Most kids just hope to get through the school day under the radar. That is the way it is. Oh, and a victim going on FB? That is almost a death sentence.

Sanddollar - Didn't you read the article..."Principal Larry Yarrell earlier 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."

the operating words here are ALL and ALWAYS. So, sometimes he could identify some of those who harassed him ----

Wonder if those kids were interviewed or investigated and by whom.

The Administrator did what he could do and gave some "very sound" advice. In school, he should "Tone Down" his use of female clothing and make-up, he can do that later, when he feels more comfortable. Everyone else dresses differently in school then they do out of school. The Gay Boy could not identify anyone and the Administrator has hundreds of other students in that school. He can't ignore spend his day following a Gay Kid and forget about the other 499. The gay kid should have known he would be given a very hard time. He was taunted but not injured in any way shape of form in school. I think he should worry about after school rather than what happens in school. Once out the door he no longer has the Administrator and School Ruls to protect him.

Excues me! PROTECT HIM? When did that happen? I hope this mom finds a really good contingency lawyer and sues the whole school administration. Did they finally get their desired results?

i doubt that, he was verbally abused he wasnt damaged at all, bt the stun gun bit, he deserved what he got.

Seems the only thing Fundamentalist Schools will listen to is Money. I say make the figure 10 digits (or more) not 7. Whatever money value suit, it takes to force the City Schools to abandon hate.

And thats my opinion.

for what exactly?

Because they tried to find the bullies, but the kid couldnt tell the school who they were, Or because he was asked to tone down his accessories?

Yes the school district might of been able to do more, what more is I havent a clue, since the kid couldnt even point out his attackers.

The next comment will get this post collapsed, but we all know its the truth..

There are also some things that the kid could of done to stop some of this himself. Like it or not, we all know, that in high school the ones who stick out the most get picked on. Should the kid have to change his appearance to fit in more? in an Ideal world no, but we all know this world is not Ideal, or Fair, and quite cruel at time. Blend in, fly under their " gay-dar" and go about your business.

It is no different then when I went to school, the Nerds stuck with Nerds, the Jar heads kept to fellow jar heads ( ROTC ) the Band and Choir geeks kept to themselves, the Jocks and Cheerleaders did their own thing, and yes the gay crowd kept to themselves. ( There was some cross over but not much )

HIGH SCHOOL is about fitting in, finding your group, fighting your own hormones as your body changes and trying to learn something in the process. He took a stun gun to school.. He should of been expelled.

@jeremy.. blaming the victim are we? why should he have to change his ways if he is picked on? don't get me wrong, I know boys will be boys, but it should not have to resort to the kid changing the way he presents himself, the administrators should be suspending the kids that say anything derrogatory to the gay kid, end of story.

zero tollerance should be zero tollerance

@Mister Whoops the truth is while "sticks and stone may break my bones", hurtful hateful words can leave wounds in me that never heal. It is the verbal bullying that most frequently leads emotional scarring. That scarring leads youths and others to commit suicide or turn violently against their oppressors in fit of rage fueled by a psychotic break.

When will we learn as a society that we must not bully period. That behavior will not be tolerated period.

The principle suggested the student tone down his accessories, not much better then the bullies. Administrator and bureaucrats are as much a problem as the bullies are.

Being gay is not universally accepted practice (nor should it be)...If someone wants to rebel and chooses to be gay it will be met with the same scorn as when hippies grew their hair long, etc...They need to gird their loins if they want to go down that road and take the inevitable verbal abuse.

Mr woops .... one of these days you'll get what you deserve .... don't mess with karma it's as powerful as any other mythical being in the sky

Oh Happy, do you want to go back to the days where they made left handed kids learn to write with their right hands because lefty's were considered wrong and not normal? I mean, if you CHOOSE to be left handed in a right handed world then if you get bullied or killed then it's on your head!

Happy42xxx- "Chooses to be gay?" You mean that you have the option? I'm only into women, no matter how convenient I would find it to be able to be attracted to individuals of either gender. I mean, I can't choose to be attracted to the men that hit on me, even the ones that my friends single out as being pretty damned cute (I mean, it's a nice compliment, but it doesn't do me any good as far as dating goes). If it's a choice for you, though, please stop choosing to be straight. You're only giving a bad name to those of us who were born that way.

@mister "i doubt that, he was verbally abused he wasnt damaged at all," -

really, tell that to the parents of the children that are bullied and committ suicide over it. Verbal abuse is incidently "assault". Threatening to beat the hell out of someone is "assault". But I guess that is perfectly ok. I mean Darwin spoke in depth about natural selection and only the strong should survive. The only glitch in this line of thought, is THIS KID actually adapted and evolved from being the target to fighting for his survival.

I don't advocate violence, I advocate self defense. And it is blatantly apparent, that is exactly what this kid was doing. He wasn't starting the trouble, he was putting an end to it. And that to me says this young kid actually has more worth than those that FORCED him into that situation.

@ Happy: "Chooses to be gay"? Is that like "choosing" which shoes go with which outfit? People don't choose to be gay. Do you honestly feel that a person would choose to be treated as a second class citizen, bullied, called names, treated differently, etc. Yeah, I can see why someone would "choose" all that loveliness for themselves. Get real. Get educated.

Nice response Will the Watcher!

@Abyssoft

Give up on Mr. Whoops.....you just can't fix stupid.

Does this kid have the right to dress as he wants? Did he interfere with school work?. Don't forget, in MASH the nurse aid was always dressed as a woman; and the ratings were always GOOD. So, What we have here is a scenario of "preferred discipline"; gay kid gets busted and for job security reasons, the perp bullies, who may have closet gay impulses and could not take the "uncomfortable reminders" of how they may feel, bash the openly gay kid with impunity. A WASTE OF VALUABLE TIME. Time must be spent on NEW Green American Industries and training to rebuild America; not neurotic nonsense. He wants to be effeminate? Who Cares; Most people know what their sexual proclivity is, they shouldn't feel threatened....

Josh you are right but the Principal and staff are more interested in their pay checks to want to get involved. They just say NO MY JOB. Yes as a janitor I worked in High schools for 30 years I know.

Good case for standardized school uniforms.

For me personally, if things were so bad in a place that I felt I had to carry a weapon to protect myself from the people there, then I would just not go to that place.

Obviously, many here cannot read. He could NOT point out the bullies. I do wonder if the young man's story is true. I would guess it is a small school and yet, he couldn't point out his "tormentors". Something fishy here.

There are two great things about standard school uniforms:

1. He could identify the bullies because every description would be the same. (sarcasm)

2. The school administrators can require they be bought from a contracted vendor, usually a friend or relative of someone on the school board. $$$$

Linda - include yourself in the crappy reading comprehension dept.

The article said he was "not always able to identify all of those who had harassed him"

we can take this to mean a few things:

everytime, he could id some of the bullies, but not all of them

sometimes he could id all of them, other times he couldnt id any of them.

sometimes he could id all, sometimes he could only id some

but the bottom line is, he could id some of them some of the time.

so why hasnt anything been done until this point?

because schools dont want to be baby sitters...they dont want to keep an eye on a bullied kid to catch the bullies in the act, and therefore have to actually expel "kids who'll be kids"

because we live in a society that likes bullies, more so than kids being bullied...and we hate tattle tales, but pretend we are christians all the while.

we stand up for the wrong, never the wronged...we'll protect the bully from expulsion, never the bullied.

we reap what we sow, because we suck as human beings to be anything CLOSE TO WHAT CHRIST WAS LIKE.

so we dont even bother trying...HIGH FIVE BULLIES, WE GOT ANOTHER GAY OUT OF SCHOOL! rock on bullies, job well done indeed! boys will be boys...right?

Take a bath Linda and you won't smell a thing ....

I do wonder if the young man's story is true. I would guess it is a small school and yet, he couldn't point out his "tormentors". Something fishy here.

Fishy only because I think you want it to be. When I lived there Arsenal had about 3500 students, and I doubt it's gotten any smaller. The high school I went to only had about 1700 students and I couldn't identify everyone there. I could only identify about 90% of my own class.

tron - please do us a favor and don't post another comment.

Rhahdhdh - It's nice for you that you can believe that 'just choosing not to go to school there' would be an option for everyone. Real life is not always that simple, even home schooling or self-education are not always options.

Linda - you should read more carefully, what it says is, he could not ALWAYS identify ALL of the bullies. This implies he could identify at least SOME of the bullies SOMETIMES, perhaps even all of them SOMETIMES, but they refused to do anything unless he handed over a detailed list identifying every single one of the perpetraters of every single incident. And I'm sorry, but yes, something does seem a bit fishy about that statement. It sounds to me like an excuse for not taking any action because the principal wants to pretend that the victim is responsible for the bullying and telling him to stop acting gay is the right solution. Kind of seems to me like he told him to solve his own problem - and he did. Like the bullies would have let up if he did change his mannerisms or clothing style, not bloody likely, that's not how bullying works. Tell a kid he's on his own to solve his own problems and then punish him because you don't like the solution, now that's an effective, competent educator. Anyone with half a brain could have seen that this was going to escalate one way another, and one kid facing down a crowd may work in the movies but in real life he takes a severe beating and lives through it with no lasting damage - if he's lucky. Maybe his solution wasn't right either but the point I'm making is that the principal's vague statement reeks of incompetency and failure to take action. It doesn't say much at all about anything else.

Jay, please tell me who the admin should have punished for bullying Darnell? Darnell could not even tell them WHO to punish.

"Principal Larry Yarrell earlier 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."

Incredible!

Young was not always able to identify all of those who had harassed him.

Were the ones he could identify punished? I doubt it.

Are you functionally illiterate?

In the passage that you youself quoted, it says he's not "always" able to identify "all" of the people bulling him. Nowhere does it wasy that he coudln't identify any of them. You jumped to that conclusion when the facts you presented say the exact opposte.

Ha! Sanddollar clearly can't read!

Either that your they lack the ability to understand what they read, which is also a form of illiteracy.

You should spend less time hating on gays and more time trying to improve your own mind. It would lead you to a richer life.

JR12, For it to be "policitized," it would have to be involved in some form of political process. No part or candidates are mentioned.

Its just flat out reporting an event.

But based on your logic of the reporting being due to his being black and gay, the truth is thousands of violent incidents in schools go unreported everyday.

CNN should run a ticker tape on the screen like they do for NASDAQ and the DOW that show the number of reported incidents.

And parents and students should start blogging, using Twitter, and Facebook to report every incident.

@defend - I can see your point in the truest sense of the word:

Politicize: to give a political tone or character to <an attempt to politicize the civil service>

Perhaps 'capitalize' would be more comfortable in the context of the article.

However, if you look at the rise in gay-press the last few days, esp with the 'pro-marriage' ballots in NC (and others?) perhaps gives credence to my choice of words.

I hope it's self-evident that the media is a decisive tool with it's own 'political' agenda. And that's NOT to make our country stronger!

On a side note, animals will attack the weakest, bullying is exactly this (and other reasons) We need to teach our children to be stronger & wiser and hold the PARENTS accountable for their child's actions!!

..and the politicians, but character doesn't matter as much as charisma, looks, and words.

Theres not a shred of evidence he was bullied.

What?

Some people can't read I guess, but the still can write something.

really Jeff? So I guess the school district investigating the bullying means there was no evidence? Wow........you are none too bright. Read the article before you post!

"Principal Larry Yarrell earlier 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."

WHO do they suspend/expell? Who are the bullies? Darnell doesn't even know?

Sandollar, did you miss the word "all"?

Sanddollar's either functionally illiterate, or he's willfully ignoring the content of the quotes he so helpfully keeps providing to support his case that this kid needs to be made an example of.

Enter Jeff-1570172, another victim of No Child Left Behind. Jeff didn't get left behind, he's write there at the bottom with the other illiterates.

Unfortunately, I agree. Bullies - one.

Diversity, acceptance and safety for all kids - zero

Bullying is a national epidemic.

It's time that anti-bullying and tolerance for all peers becomes req'd coursework. In order to graduate so many credits need to be applied to (and call it just this) antibullying 101, 102 etc. Diversity and compassion for our fellow man is not just a buzzword - but need be a way of life all young people embrace.

And while at it - much of the hate is learned at home from uneducated (parents?).

Its not an epidemic. It is part of the real world. You keep cottling these pathetic people and they will fail even worse as adults. What? Do you think that bully in your company is gonna play nice when it comes time to get that promotion? Get a clue.

Gee, does that mean if I come to your house and threaten to break your kneecaps with a baseball bat unless you give me $1000, that's OK?

After all, I'm just a misunderstood bully, doing what comes naturally to me.

Sickness and death are a part of the real world, too. Do you think we should close down all the medical schools?

I suspect you're one of those bullies yourself.

Selmers, being "part of the real world" is an inherent attribute of an "epidemic."

The pathetic people are the bullies. Many of them fill up our prisons and sit on death row.

If you want to be "part of the real world," go substitute teach in a public school for a week.

Selmers, As a manager of a team of 8 people, if I observe intimidating actions from 1 member of my team (i.e. bullying) I'm calling him on the carpet because he is damaging the overall effectiveness of the team. I will certainly not be recommending him for promotion. Welcome to the real 'real world'

And what would have kept his attackers from breaking the camera? And what good is a camera when you are being attacked? It just makes them want to hurt you more for trying to get them in trouble. If the school did their job, he wouldn't have needed to defend himself.

Sure, bring a camera to tape your a$$ getting kicked, have the camera taken from you so you can watch it all on the internet later. A great idea.

Mister Whoops,

You have failed at life. I agree, a weapon in school is unacceptable, but once again its the administration blaming the victims for being bullied. The "boys will be boys" argument doesn't pass anymore and with kids taking their life because of the relentless harassment means faculty needs to do more to protect those they are charged with.

You are a failure...sad but true

@Alvernt "If the school did their job,"

"Principal Larry Yarrell earlier 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."

Any witnesses? ANYBODY?

BTW I didn't read anything about physical violence just harassing words?

OMG! you guys are idiots!!! Dont you know how to even look on the internet for spy camera's OMG dont tell me you guys are that moronic!! I mean seriously.

You guys have really failed big time, Frankly i dont care if Newsvine bans me for saying thing, BUT YOU GUYS ARE MORONS!

We are so technically Advance now we have camera's in pen's and glasses. OMG can even hook it up the the backpack!

Talk about failure Geesus.! People come on! Think for once THINK!!

Especially you ben, Seriously now, Its is Boys will be BOYS! he almost about to go out into society, what lesson is learned here?? Just because im gay I not going to be ridiculed in public by other people??! Be serious now.

You majorly have failed.

So stiff up your LIP okay take it in stride, You know what you are, You have nothing to HIDE!

Ive been bullied in junior high school big deal, just dont listen to them, just walk away when i became hall monitor and wore my badge well people treated me a bit better, as well in high school you just walk away, some are more prone to cause more trouble but its all the same, just dont go in thier direction when harrassed, if you do then you are looking for trouble, when you know your out numbered what do you do?? you back away you dont go inthere fighting like Jet Li and beat them all up, when you dont have the skills. FAILED FAILED!

So get a life guys get a freaking LIFE!

OMG! OMG! What are you Mister Whoops? A 14 year old girl?

no you should go in fighting no matter if you get jumped just shows you shouldn't be f-ed with because you have balls and once you stick up for yourself once a bully backs off know from personal experience.

Hey Pres,

Perhaps you should have spent a little more time paying attention in English class.

"write" RIGHT

"not in much cases to terminate" I am not sure what that is supposed to mean.

"The bullies, haven't been expelled,"

per the article, "Principal Larry Yarrell earlier 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."

"when the emotionally harmed a person, "

When theY emotionally harmed a person

"they've been penalized, too" Who has been penalized?

I see you're still ignoring the "always" and "all."

Im sorry. Did this article say this happened in Florida?

So what. It still says that being black and defending yourself by firing a non-letal weapon in the air is worse than being a white guy and murdering a kid with candy.

No, but the gun nuts are calling for it everywhere. But only when it's a white heterosexual male, as I pointed out. When a Florida white guy murdered a teenager, they were all up in arms about the "Stand Your Ground" shoot-first laws. But when it was a Florida woman defending herself by shooting her violent husband the gun nuts didn't say a word about shoot-first laws. And when it's a black gay kid in Indiana protecting himself they didn't say a word about shoot-first laws.

this was in a school!!! hello!!!! SCHOOL SAYS NO GUNS OR WEAPONS!!!

Man, the bigots will do any myriad of mental gymnastics to fabricate a "gay conspiracy."

And just what is that political agenda.....right to defend yourself? But then you, trolling here have not political genda do you?

My guess is that you are not a progressive type, but recessive.

Steven,

He's been there only this year and it could be that he doesn't know them. They may be in another grade and bully him between classes.

Bullying is real and him being gay, well, he's pretty much in for it. He probably would have been better off staying in the closet till he graduated or something.

NO TOLERANCE means just that, and it should be a criminal offence, period!

Yeah, sending him to prison for a couple of years would sure teach him. You're a compassionate guy.

Yawn.

Incredible....and he's proud of it.

That's the America they want...not the America I grew up in.

Is it just me or does it seem like the bullies segment spent far too much time bullying in school and life and not nearly enough on edumacation. Spelling, grammar, etc … are far more important, Selmers, than pushing other people around because you lack sufficient brain function.

Selmers, you bullies (as you identified yourself) ARE the wimps and pansies. That's why there was a GROUP of bullies harassing one gay teenager.

These bullies weren't signing up for ROTC, they weren't taking EMT classes to save lives, they were WIMPS and PANSIES who couldn't cut it alone so they packed together to make up for their inadequacies.

And when the kid fired a stun gun into the air they ran JUST LIKE THE WIMPS AND PANSIES BULLIES ARE.

So don't pat yourself on the back for being a bully... you'll probably hurt yourself.

Why dont we just kick out the pansies and wimps so we bullies dont have to deal with their likes. Give us nothing to bully, and we wont bully.. Instead, you pussies all want to make a weaker America. Lets cottle and nurture our weak and punish our strong. Survival of the lamest.

You're a real tough guy, I guess. Sounds like the Marines would be a good place for you to learn more about bullying.

Please don't insult the marines that way. Seriously, they are protecting us and they better be tough to do their job. Bullies aren't tough.

@ Reasonable...

It may seem that way however, the kid brought a "weapon" to school. Not good man! Let's hope that he did send a message to the bullies and they are now saying, "don't mess with him, he's packing heat!"

Never know....

In this idiot's world, bullied kids can bring guns to school. That worked great for Eric Harris and Dylan Kleibold.

Reasonable, I think you are due a name change... may I suggest, 'Stupid'?

Selmers I think you may have already taken that title.

Time for some whoop a-- .... on some bullies - you know?

I am proud to say I had a gay friend in High School and I was never threatened by him!What are you punks afraid of - your sexuality or others???? and what right do you have to threaten another? THIS IS NOT NAZI GERMANY YET--- MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO LIVE IN A 3rd WORLD YOU PUNKS!!

Chicken butt cowards all of you ---bullies- hang your heads in shame!!!!God will follow this one on you - He sees all- Be afraid, very afraid as He balances the scales- Not us.... in this life and the next.And we all get the next life whether we believe in it or not! Billy Jack, WHERE ARE YOU????

Selmers I think you may have already taken that title.

And they retired his jersey.

At Reasonable,

I agree with you completely. But you left one thing out... What kind of message does this send to the bullies themselves? That they can get away with it and the one who's being pushed to do something irrational (aka the victim) will get the bad wrap. This is disgusting.

Selmers, condolences to your parents for not having any offspring that lived. It is truely unfortunate that they insisted on raising the afterbirth!

You are utterly disgusting in your puny mindlessness.

Bullies don't usually introduce themsevles before attacking.

People shouldn't be required to dress a certain way based on gender. Move to Iran if that's what you want.

Reasonable cross dresses

Listen up, bigots. This kid can dress however he feels comfortable. We shouldn't be teaching our kids to conform. We should be teaching them tolerance of differences. What some of you fail to realize is that this kid was only at this school for a year. He didn't grow up with these kids. Which probably explains why he wasn't able to identify all of them. I went to high school WHERE I GREW UP and still didn't know more than half of the campus. Why is it okay for a grown man to shoot and kill an unarmed teenager and only POSSIBLY get in trouble for it, and it's outrageous that a bullied teen brings a non-lethal weapon to a school, fires it in the air while he's surrounded by potentially violent homophobes? There is such a double-standard in this country. It disgusts me. If you want everyone to follow your personal beliefs, move to the middle east and give Sharia Law a go. Otherwise, have a fricken soul for our bullied kids.

Ummm Patty, not if its a private school.

I agree with Jeff on this...there's something rotten in Indy

Most guys run into a bully in school...and know who they are...mine was in 4th grade and his name was Earl Ponkonan...and something else that makes bullies back off...you stand up to them, come what may

Patty sounds like she wants everyone to follow HER personal beliefs...maybe she should go somewhere else

American Citizen, you had a personal bully.

This is a different kind of bullying. This is when a group of kids team up and go "hunt" for a loner to harass or attack.

At my high school, this happened when teenagers from another school would come over to our campus, walk the halls during class and look for a loners going to the bathroom or on an errand.

I had a "personal bully" that I stood up to and we ended up being friends.

Todays bullying is very different.

Its packs of kids that, when they grow up, will corner you and beat you to death.

These are the bullies that are going to grow up marry your daughter, kill her, and then blow up the house with your grandkids in it.

These are the bullies that are going to load a truck full of fertilizer and drive it into a daycare in a federal building.

Care to defend their way of life anymore?

Well Selmers, if you know anything about Columbine, they were....but they never reported it and faught back in the worse way possible by killing teachers and kids who didn't bully them. Maybe you need to think before you make ridiculous statements.