From Indiana, the latest in a string of homophobic and transphobic bullying incidents that led to the suicide of the targeted child.

He was a teenager who didn't quite fit in. His classmates said Billy Lucas was bullied for being different.

The 15-year-old never told anyone he was gay but students at Greensburg High School thought he was and so they picked on him.

"People would call him 'fag' and stuff like that, just make fun of him because he's different basically," said student Dillen Swango.

Students told Fox59 News it was common knowledge that children bullied Billy and from what they said, it was getting worse.

Last Thursday, Billy's mother found him dead inside their barn. He had hung himself. Students said on that same day, some students told Billy to kill himself.

Video and more below the fold

To make matters worse, you get the typical response from the school principle who intimates that this poor child may have brought the torment on himself. Watch:

It’s more than past time that the Senate acts on the Federal Safe Schools Improvement Act. There is simply no excuse not to.

As Charles Robbins from the Trevor Project put it in their response to this latest death:

Only with an enforceable national standard that offers resources and support to educators and staff, no matter the size of a school district, will we be able to prevent future tragedies like Greensburg High School has experienced. The death of Billy Lucas is a tragedy, and one that might have been prevented if his school district had the support of a fully inclusive anti-harassment and anti-bullying law.

Share this story with anyone and everyone with school-age kids… and if they won’t respond to logic and reason on how to tackle the bullying problem), then ask them how many more children need to die before they’re willing to act like adults and parents and put a stop to it.

RESOURCES

• GLSEN


• PFLAG


• The Trevor Project