Police in Buffalo, New York are
considering whether to bring criminal charges against students who
harassed Jamey Rodemeyer, the 14-year-old junior high school student
who committed suicide after being bullied for coming out gay.
In May, Rodemeyer posted a
heartbreaking YouTube video for the It Gets Project, which reaches
out to struggling gay teens considering suicide. “Lady Gaga, she
makes me so happy, and she lets me know that I was born this way.
And that's my advice to you from her. People are born this way. All
you have to do is hold your head up and you'll go far,” he said in
the clip. “Just love yourself and you're set … It gets better.”
The video was a relief for his parents
who saw it as a sign that their son's struggle might be coming to an
end.
But on Sunday, Rodemeyer, who had just
started his freshman year at Williamsville North High School outside
Buffalo, was found dead outside his home. (Police have not released
details of how he killed himself.)
Police Chief John C. Askey told the
Buffalo News that the department was looking into the case.
“We've heard that there were some
specific students, an unidentifiable group of students, that had
specifically targeted Jamey, or had been picking on him for a period
of time,” he said.
Officials said the actions of three
students in particular are being investigated. The students could be
charged with aggravated harassment. (An ABC News report is embedded
in the right panel of this page.)
(Related: Lady
Gaga vows to fight for Jamey Rodemeyer's memory.)