For part 1 click here
More examples of the effects of hate can be remembered on October 12th 1998. Matthew Wayne Sheppard was brutally beating and murdered because he was homosexual. After finding out Shepard was gay two men, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney, robbed and beat Shepard and then left him to die tied to a fence in a remote rural area. People just do not set out to do things to people. Hate involves action and doing. This was nothing but an act of pure hate for a fellow human being that was a little different than they were. This case brought hate crimes to the forefront of legislation for many nations.
Suicide did not kill five gay teens, hate did. Tyler Clementi (19 years old), Asher Brown (13 years old), Seth Walsh (13 years old), Billy Lucas (15 years old) Zach Harrington (19 years old) ended their lives’ because of bullying. I can understand what was going through these kids head. From grade four to grade eleven a day would hardly go by without someone or several people say something while walking to my next class. I was scared to walk through the hallway or be in the library. The only safe place was in the class room during class time. It was a race to more from room to room and get out of school at the end of the day. Teachers would duck their heads and walk away while fellow students said something degrading or derogatory. These kids were constantly badgered and intimidated by others day by day by day. Do you know what it is like to be constantly antagonized, intimidated, tortured, and threatened at you school where it is supposed to be a safe supportive learning environment? I do and it is terrible, scary, and heartbreaking.
Right where we think that these kids have support we find out that they may not. To raise awareness and support for young kids thinking about suicide we all wore purple on October 20th for Sprit day. A Midland school district member, Clint McCance posted very publicly on facebook his hate for the fact that we were to wear purple in member of these kids. Everywhere else school are taking actions against bullying but not McCance. On his own facebook page, McCance wrote (his words and his spelling),
"Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves. The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE."
In response to another challenge, McCance replied,
"I would disown my kids they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity. I will absolutely run them off. Of course my kids will know better. My kids will have solid Christian beliefs."
These are some of the words of someone that is an elected official that may have been responsible for the goings on in YOUR child’s school. McCance later appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 to talk with Anderson about his words. McCance apologized without apologizing; it was a non apology apology. This was best said by Dr. Phil McGrew the next day while he and Cooper talked. There is a difference between opinion and attack on persons that are different. McCance attacked children, these kids are dead and he attacked them and their memory on his facebook page. The words McCance support hate and support kids killing themselves, supports suicide. From his words he supports the death and killing of children.
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