LGBT History Month: Kenneth Weishuhn

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Kenneth Weishuhn of Primghar, Iowa was just 14 years old when he came out to his classmates this past March.  Born May 27, 1997 in Sheldon, Iowa, he was a happy teen, a freshman at Paullina's South O'Brien High School.  His sister Kayla was his best friend.  He liked video games and rollerblading, and he played soccer for a local team.

After he told people he was gay he began to get bullied.  He asked his mother not to talk to the administration. "Mom, you don't know how it feels to be hated," he said.  People who were his friends turned on him; he was teased in school; and someone even created a Facebook hate group against LGBT people and added his friends.

Then came the death threats.  Students from his school would call his cell phone and leave threatening voicemails, saying he didn't deserve to live, God hates fags.  He blew them off in front of his family, but on April 15, 2012, Weishuhn killed himself.  Another tragedy of someone not being heard, another shining life lost.

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Also this month:

~ October is also National Bullying Prevention Month.

~ October 10th was Unity Day; wear orange to show your support and remind others about the importance of bullying prevention.

~ October 11th was National Coming Out Day when we celebrate coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or as an ally. See the Human Rights Campaign website for resources on coming out.

~ October 19th is Spirit Day; wear purple on this day to support LGBT youth & stand up against bullying.