Jamey Rodemeyer

Jamey Rodemeyer (* 21st March 1997 in Buffalo , New York ; † 18th September 2011 in Amherst , New York) was an American teenager who because of bullying attacks on Facebook by suicide died.

Life

Jamey Rodemeyer was open about his bisexuality , which is why he was teased. He campaigned for gay rights and was a member of the anti-bullying campaign It Gets Better , for which he published a video shortly before his death in which he spoke about human rights and bullying.

On September 8, 2011 he posted: no one in my school cares about preventing suicide, while you're the ones calling me [gay slur] and tearing me down. ("At my school nobody cares about preventing suicide while you scold me [gay slur] (homophobic term) and demoralize me.")

On September 19, 2011, Rodemeyer was found dead in front of his apartment in New York State . One of his bullies had left a message that shows what Jamey was doing : JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT ANND UGLY. HE MUST THEM! ("Jamie is stupid, gay, fat and ugly. He has to die!") Another became even clearer: I wouldn't care if you died. No one would. So just do it. It would make everyone WAY more happier! ("I wouldn't care if you died. Everyone wouldn't care. So do it. It would make everyone MUCH happier!")

Effects

Since Jamey Rodemeyer was an avowed fan of the American singer Lady Gaga , she dedicated one of her songs to him and announced that she would contact President Barack Obama personally to demand a law against bullying.

Michael Knote designed a memorial page, which led to further engagement for LGBT rights and to work in the community. After further reports of tragic fates and a conversation with a friend, the idea of creating a safe, fun and educational online space came up. On February 25, 2012 he started the Facebook page "Have A Gay Day" (HAGD), the title of which refers to the ambiguity of "gay": "homosexual, gay" and "happy, cheerful, funny". Over time, people who wanted to donate got in touch, in 2013 the work began to register HAGD as a non-profit organization, which was completed in autumn 2015. They got a lot of messages from all over the world, from people who needed a friend to communicate with. This has been expanded to include a telephone service that not only provides suicide prevention within narrow limits , but also allows you to pour your heart out for a longer time. The offices, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio , also act as a point of contact, providing safe space, conference rooms, lounges and, if necessary, coffee and food. In 2015 a membership program called "Unicorn Army" was started to secure future funding.

Individual evidence

^ Sarah Anne Hughes: Jamey Rodemeyer, bullied teen who made 'It Gets Better' video, commits suicide (English) . In: blogPOST , Washington Post , September 21, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
↑ Lady Gaga sings moving tribute to bullied gay 14-year-old who committed suicide as 500 gather for funeral. Daily Mail , Sept. 26, 2011
↑ Date with Obama. Süddeutsche Zeitung , September 23, 2011, accessed on October 1, 2012 .
↑ Have A Gay Day: How A Small LGBT Facebook Group Blossomed Into A Full-Fledged LGBT Organization. In: Gayli Grind. August 6, 2015, accessed August 7, 2015 .

personal data
SURNAME	Rodemeyer, Jamey
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American teenager and victim of bullying
DATE OF BIRTH	March 21, 1997
PLACE OF BIRTH	Buffalo , NY
DATE OF DEATH	September 19, 2011
Place of death	Amherst , NY

[1] Sarah Anne Hughes: Jamey Rodemeyer, bullied teen who made 'It Gets Better' video, commits suicide (English) . In: blogPOST , Washington Post , September 21, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.

[2] Lady Gaga sings moving tribute to bullied gay 14-year-old who committed suicide as 500 gather for funeral. Daily Mail , Sept. 26, 2011

[3] Date with Obama. Süddeutsche Zeitung , September 23, 2011, accessed on October 1, 2012 .

[4] Have A Gay Day: How A Small LGBT Facebook Group Blossomed Into A Full-Fledged LGBT Organization. In: Gayli Grind. August 6, 2015, accessed August 7, 2015 .