A 9-year-old Denver boy committed suicide on Thursday after he was bullied by his friends for coming out as a gay.
Jamel Myles, who had just started his fourth grade in a new public school, Joe Shoemaker Elementary School took his own life just days after he came out to his friends.
His mother, Leia Pierce said that her son came out to her over this summer where he "looked so scared when he told me. He was like, 'Mom I'm gay,' She further said,
And I thought he was playing, so I looked back because I was driving, and he was all curled up, so scared. And I said 'I still love you.'
Pierce told her son wanted the same support from his peers in school so he shared his sexuality with them. But, unfortunately, his cla s smates were not as accepting as his mother. Myles was bullied continuously for days which led him to commit suicide.
According to Yahoo, Jamel was going through a monumental transition where he had also told his mother "I know you buy me boy stuff because I'm a boy, but I'd rather dress like a girl."
The school said to the media that it will be investigating on the alleged bullying. Further, Will Jones, director of media relations for Denver Public School said,
We are deeply committed to our students' well-being. That commitment is at the core for all educators in DPS, which is a safe and welcoming environment.
He continued,
Our priority right now is to look at all the concerns raised in this case, to keep all our students safe and to do a fair and thorough review of the facts surrounding this tragic loss.
The Denver Police Department confirmed Mayel's death as a suicide and a s sured to investigate the circ u mstances which appear non-criminal at the current time.
