THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A 14-year-old boy from New York, who warned in internet postings that he felt suicidal because of homophobic bullying, has been found dead outside his home.
Jamey Rodemeyer became the latest in a string of suicides by young Americans who had been abused or ridiculed because of their sexuality, in several cases over the internet.
Jamey, from Williamsville, complained that he was being viciously abused after talking online about his confusion over whether he was gay.
In May, he recorded a video message for the "It Gets Better" campaign, through which young gay people, along with celebrities and national figures such as Barack Obama, try to encourage each other to remain hopeful through difficult experiences.
"People would just keep sending me hate, telling me that gay people go to hell," he said in the recording, which was posted to YouTube.
Jamey, who had just began high school, received support from his parents, Tracy and Tim Rodemeyer, and went through counselling. Recently "he was saying how great school was going, how happy he was, his grades were great," his father told local television reporters.
But in retrospect, Mr Rodemeyer said, "he fooled everybody. He put on a brave face and I wish he wouldn't have." » | Jon Swaine, New York | Wednesday, September 21, 2011
