9-Year-Old Victim Of Bullying Commits Suicide After Coming Out As Gay

9-Year-Old Victim Of Bullying Commits Suicide After Coming Out As Gay

A Colorado mother says her son killed himself after being bullied at school.

Leia Pierce told KDVR that her 9-year-old son, Jamel Myles, came out to her as gay over the summer.

“And he looked so scared when he told me. He was like, ‘Mom I’m gay.’ 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 said.

He began fourth grade at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School in Denver, last Monday. Pierce said her son wanted to tell his classmates that he was gay.

“He went to school and said he was gonna tell people he’s gay because he’s proud of himself,” she said. Just four days after the first day of school, Jamel killed himself in his home.

The Denver Police Department confirmed the death is being investigated as a suicide. The boy’s mother believes bullying was a factor in his decision to end his life and she hopes to spread awareness about the effects of bullying.