(Photo Credits: Screengrab from Los Angeles Blade)
Warning: The following content contains discussion of suicide, which may be distressing for some individuals. If you or someone you know is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. Contact a mental health professional, call emergency services, or reach out to a trusted individual for support.
Ethan Henderson – described as a bright and compassionate 15-year-old, who only recently celebrated his birthday last March 11 – took his own life last April 14, 2024. His promising future was tragically cut short due to homophobic bullying.
Growing up in a tight-knit rural community in Arkansas, Ethan was known for his kindness and willingness to lend a hand to neighbors, whether it was helping with chores or offering a listening ear. “He was such a good boy, so loving, so caring,” his mother said.
However, his life took a dark turn a year ago after he bravely came out as gay to his parents.
His mother shared that she was supportive of Ethan’s sexual orientation, despite the challenges they faced. She recounted, “His Dad left us, just walked away from him. No contact, silence.” Ethan’s father’s rejection and abandonment deeply affected him, leaving him grappling with feelings of guilt and despair. He struggled to cope with the emotional fallout of his father’s departure and the added financial strain placed on his single mother.
Please! Take a minute and read this. If you’re a parent of a young kid, try and make them understand, words matter & as parents understand what u say out loud influencers your child to act like this. RIP beautiful Ethan💔 . https://t.co/YrS6MG9GW6
— Rennae Stubbs ♈️ (@rennaestubbs) May 1, 2024
Moreover, Ethan faced relentless bullying from his peers due to his sexual orientation. The torment became unbearable, ultimately leading to his untimely death.
Ethan’s mother told Los Angeles Blade in an interview: “He began to withdraw and late at night he started to hurt himself even to the point [of going] to the E.R.” In addition, “the local farm boys would say hateful things, they’d call him faggot, they’d stay away telling him he was gonna give them AIDS or die from it.” The rejection and bullying escalated to such an extent at the school that staff intervened to stop it. “The school was so supportive, they even gave in-school suspensions, but then those boys, others, went on line and it got worse,” she recounted to the Blade.
Ethan’s mother fondly remembers him as a devoted son and a beacon of love and care. His tragic story sheds light on the urgent need for greater awareness and support for LGBTQ+ youth facing discrimination and harassment.
Bullying against LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly youth, is a pervasive and deeply concerning issue with far-reaching consequences. LGBTQ+ youth often face discrimination, harassment, and violence due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, both in person and online. This bullying can take various forms, including verbal abuse, physical assault, exclusion, and cyberbullying.
Studies have consistently shown that LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of bullying compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. According to research conducted by the Human Rights Campaign, more than half of LGBTQ+ youth report experiencing bullying based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC reported that in 2023, “Almost 6 in 10 (59.4%) LGBTQ+ youth—including 62.6% of transgender and gender-expansive youth—have been ‘teased, bullied, or treated badly’ at school for at least one reason.” Furthermore, “more than half each of LGBQ+ youth (51.7%), and transgender and gender-expansive youth (55.6%) were victimized specifically due to their sexual identity, gender identity, and/or gender expression.” This bullying can occur in schools, communities, and even within families, creating hostile environments that undermine the well-being and safety of LGBTQ+ youth.
The consequences of bullying for LGBTQ+ youth are profound and multifaceted. It can lead to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among LGBTQ+ youth. Many LGBTQ+ youth report feeling unsafe and unwelcome in their environments, which can negatively impact their academic performance, social relationships, and overall mental health.
Efforts to address bullying against LGBTQ+ youth require comprehensive and inclusive approaches that prioritize prevention, intervention, and support. This includes implementing anti-bullying policies in schools, providing training for educators and administrators, fostering inclusive and affirming environments, and promoting awareness and acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities.
Supportive networks, including LGBTQ+ community centers, youth organizations, and online resources, play a crucial role in providing safe spaces and resources for LGBTQ+ youth who experience bullying. Additionally, ongoing advocacy and education efforts are essential to challenging harmful stereotypes, promoting empathy and understanding, and creating a culture of respect and inclusion for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Read Ethan Henderson’s full story at the Los Angeles Blade.
Rest in peace, Ethan.
In case of a life-threatening emergency, please dial 911.
For support during a crisis, please call 988 or reach out directly to the Rainbow Youth Project at +1 (317) 643-4888.
For more LGBTQ crisis and support resources, click here and here.
In this modern age, we have become to raise some really ‘cowardly, punk ass’ kids to the point we see suicide as a solution. Probably every ‘special’ boy on this planet has had a bully or two. The difference between a white boy raised in Arkansas, versus an urban child in NYC are their survival tactics and support system.Of course I had bullies, but I’m a methodical maniac, so I can’t expect every gay boy to do what I did. I waited til my bully became a grown man and I fucked his kids while he was on his death… Read more »
It’s also having faith in one’s self, one’s future, having something to live for, a goal or mission in life.
Omnipotens deus illum in brachiis prehendat et arcte amplectatur!
Yeah, I hope so, too. But, look, you’re not impressing anybody with intelligence. It’s more like impressing with arrogance. Go get a life and if you want to communicate something do it in a language the reader is likely to understand rather than have to go look it up just to see what you have to say. It’s rude, dude.
Copy. Cut, Paste, and type Translate to English. Simple.
And enjoyable by those who like exploring languages.
multas gratias tibi propter misericordiam tuam
I simpli ignorum.
non maior stultus quam promptus est
Your Latin is poor, awkward, and clunky. It might be more impressive if you actually knew the language instead of just plugging it into Google translate and copying and pasting whatever it told you.
Tuum Latinum est pauper, inconcinnus, et clunky. Plus infigo posset si linguam cognosceres pro modo linamentis eam in Google transferre et exscribere ac transilire quicquid tibi dixit.
Aliqui non placet habere fun
Schools have had anti-bullying programs for years. They’ve been painfully ineffective, trying to teach everyone to be “respectful and nice”. The only thing bullies understand is a bigger bully. Someone who pins them on their behavior. Football coaches, shop teachers, mechanics teachers for years could pick the bully up, pin him against the wall or lockers in full view of a full hallway and say “we’re going to have a discussion about your behavior.” It was highly effective. Not any more; there’d be a lawsuit. Liberal school thought for years has been busy teaching young children to address their gender… Read more »
That’s the trouble with the activist gay crowd – they encourage others to be more like them and throw their sexuality out there for the world to see. The problem with that is the world doesn’t care for the most part and furthermore they despise them for throwing it in their face and their sexuality most find quite repulsive in the first place. There is no doubt in my mind that this beautiful child had heard disparaging remarks spoken by others about gay people prior to coming out as gay. Form that, he should have known in advance it was… Read more »
I think that many in the world do care, but they and others on the edge are sick and tired of having others’ sexuality and genders thrown in their faces.
Small towns incubate the worst characteristics of human beings. I’ve always been bemused that the comic book character Superman was depicted as having his character molded by the wholesomeness of small town life. It was only wholesome if you were white, male, Christian, and, of course, straight. Superman would more likely have turned out as a neo-Nazi.
People can’t help where they come from. We’re all born somewhere. There are some genuinely good people in small towns. Just because you come from a large city doesn’t mean that it won’t come with its share of challenges.
“People can’t help where they come from.”
Weirdly irrelevant comment.
The truth is that big cities are more tolerant because the citizens have to live close to people that aren’t like them.
Well, it’s only irrelevant because you don’t agree with it and because you’re totally focused on your own particular viewpoint. However, I said what I said.
The truth is that big cities are not more tolerant because the citizens have to live close to people that aren’t like them. People in big cities can be wildly intolerant. They just act intolerantly in ways that are subtle.
The father did not leave because the son was gay. That might have been his excuse but no father walks out on a family because a kid is gay. He left for other reasons. The son being gay is a lame excuse and for the mother to suggest that’s reason the father left indicates she’s not paying attention to what led to his departure or what’s going on in her home.
Suicide by a teen (gay, straight, bi, etc.), unfortunately, happens.
These are things that I have seen in fact, which has verified what sociologists, psychologists, physiologists have observed and concluded from research: 1) A person who has a good reception from people, particularly because of his kindness, will likely be more honest and trusting. 2) A young human requires a social source to provide, supplement, and teach life skills until he has learned and strengthened these. It begins with simple feeding, clothing, communicating, and expands to behavior, coping, and working. 3) The human copes with stress by peer support or by learning to work through it on his own. He… Read more »
The poor kid died due to Depression. With support and faith, he’d have been able to endure his situation.
yes, support was what he needed, it truly helps when people support you and have your back
i’ve been a victim of bullying myself (still am at times) .. i hope you will be at peace wherever you are Ethan, you did not deserve this, no one deserves this, honey ♥
What i can say after reading this is we know who the real “faggots” are and it’s NOT Ethan, the bullies are nothing more than mere male “mommies boys” envious he made such a bold move whilst the whole lot must remain stuck in the deep dark closet, lying to themselves for the rest of their lives on their true sexual nature, definitely aware where that’s going alright and no surprise if those backwards people are religious (Enough said there) Fly high mate.
There is something in that; seems the dullest are always victimizing the confidently: freest minds and creative, additionally bravest, strong minded, actually . . . the bullying though and let’s be clear; isn’t about the victim who’s being bullied, almost, never.
Society has always favored and celebrated the bully. The least quoted Bible verse in modern society: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Think about it, this poor kid being bullied online. BUT, if he would have said to just one person, “We’ll see what happens when we get to school tomorrow.” The FBI , ATF, CIA, hell the FDA would have kicked in his parents front door and drug them all off to prison.
Btw, for you “tough guys,” not everyone can physically protect themselves. I mean they aren’t like you ” I fought 10 guys,” or those raised on “The streets.” Fyi. none of you can fight that say things like this