Mom Says Her 9-Year-Old Son Killed Himself Because He Was Bullied For Coming Out

This has got to stop.
A 9-year-old Colorado boy reportedly killed himself the first week of school, just days after telling classmates he was gay.
Related: Disney Alum Garrett Clayton Comes Out As Gay
Leia Pierce says bullying is to blame for the death of her son, Jamel Myles (above), who came out to her as gay over the summer. She told KDVR:

“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 says Jamel was feeling “proud of himself” and wanted to tell his classmates when he started fourth grade at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School on Monday.
Apparently, his classmates were anything but supportive. Pierce says Jamel’s revelation was met with vicious bullying. Four days into the school year, Pierce found her son dead in their Denver home.
She explained:

“Four days is all it took at school. I could just imagine what they said to him. My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself. I’m just sad he didn’t come to me…I’m so upset that he thought that was his option.”

Denver Public Schools sent out a letter the day following the apparent suicide, telling families it would be providing extra social workers and crisis support for students.
Related: Linkin Park Pays Tribute To Chester Bennington One Year Following Suicide
The district also said it will offer support to Jamel’s family. Pierce, however, says she wants the bullies — and their parents — held accountable:

“We should have accountability for bullying. I think the child should, because the child knows it’s wrong. The child wouldn’t want someone to do it to them. I think the parent should be held (accountable) because obviously the parents are either teaching them to be like that, or they’re treating them like that.”

The Denver Police Department is investigating the death as a suicide.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
[Image via Facebook]