Another Gay Youth in Tennessee Bullied To Death

When will it end?

Yet another gay teenager in Tennessee has been driven to suicide in what can only be described as the systematic, fundie-fueled extermination of youngsters who identify as LGBT, tormented to death by classmates parroting the prejudice of right-wing lawmakers and judgmental churches.  14-year-old Phillip Parker of Gordonsville ended his young life last week after experiencing years of relentless anti-gay bullying.  As reported by NewsChannel5,com in Tennessee: 

The family of an openly gay teen who committed suicide Friday said it was a direct result of bullying at school. Now the parents of Phillip Parker have questions for leaders at Gordonsville High School.  "A sweet kind person like Phillip took it out on himself, he killed himself to get out of the pain," said his grandfather, Paul Harris.  At just 14, just a child, 8th grader Phillip Parker felt like life just wasn't worth living.  "Because he was gay, he got mistreated physically, mentally by several people out there at the school, and I am very resentful as a result of it," said Harris.  Parents and grandparents found Phillip's body Friday afternoon, minutes later they found a handwritten note in his trash can that read 'Please help me mom'. ... While these parents and grandparents had no idea, the students at Gordonsville High school bombarded them both with information after Phillip's death. More than hundred teens told them the bullying was obvious, and some said they went to teachers about it.  Now the Parkers want to know why no one from Gordonsville alerted them to the apparent bullying happening in the hallways.

From WBIR:  More than 100 people gathered in Gordonsville on Saturday night, grieving the loss of Phillip.  "He was fun, he was energetic, he was happy," said Gena Parker, Phillip's mother.  To his friends, Phillip was known as the boy who told everyone they're beautiful...  Phillip's family said they reported their concerns over their son's bullying to Gordonsville High School on multiple occasions, but the bullying by a group of students just got worse.  "That's my son," said Phillip's father. "I love him. I miss him. He shouldn't have had to kill himself to be brought to life."

Jonathan Cole at TEP's Grand Divisions writes:  While attending Saturday's conference, H.G. Stovall and I met a former teacher who knew Phillip while he attended Gordonsville Elementary School.  Tears flowed as she told us that Philip had endured years of anti-gay bullying at the school and that bullying in general at Gordonsville Elementary School often goes unaddressed by faculty and staff.  She knew of several students who had to transfer to other schools to escape the harassment.  This educator also knew Phillip had endured anti-gay preaching from the pulpit of his church.

It's over a decade into the 21st century, and this child had to listen to sermons condemning him at his own church.

Facebook comments about the tragedy were mostly supportive of Phillip - but one "Christian" named Chris Mcdade of Lenoir City actually blamed Phillip's death on the "shame" he must have felt over his sexual orientation.  McDade wrote:  "If I were doing something that I was so ashamed of, to the point that I would kill myself over it if I were bullied for it... then I think I'd change what I was doing. It's a choice."  Another user, John Brett Vincent, suggested that Phillip suffered from mental illness:  "Maybe the young man had mental problems that were not associated with the bullying? There is not enough information to make a call as who is to blame."  After piously stating that Phillip's parents were responsible for his suicide (the Parkers, he says, should have put him in a private school), Matthew Rogers of Knoxville writes:  "God did not make the boy gay. That is a lifestyle choice and a strange one to make at age 14."

The attitudes of narrow-minded bigots like Mcdade, Vincent, and Rogers are a major part of the problem.  Their sanctimonious posturing feeds homophobia.  It gives juice to the bullies.  

If you haven't watched the following video by Rick Mercer, now might be a good time to do so:

WSMV.com provides video of the Saturday night vigil for Phillip Parker - but perhaps the memory of this young man would be better served if Gordonsville residents who attended the candlelight service confronted the local pastors that condemn Phillip and other LGBT Americans as "an abomination in the eyes of God."

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