Educate kids on sexual orientation

Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover was an 11-year-old middle school student at the New Leadership Charter School in Springfield, Mass. Carl was perceived by his classmates to be gay. No longer able to endure being harassed and bullied, Carl hanged himself in his home.

Research indicates that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth are two to three times more likely to commit suicide. Carl is now a part of this statistic. Carl's mother asked for assistance from the school but claims the school did not act on her requests. The children who harassed Carl are not evil. They are a reflection of the society in which we live. Educating students about sexual orientation may help to prevent the harassment of GLBT students in schools around the country.

Carl was buried on April 17. Also on this day students throughout the country participated in the Annual Day of Silence. This is a day set aside for students to show their support for GLBT students nationwide, and they do so by remaining silent for one school day.

This year the Annual Day of Silence was particularly relevant because it was the day Carl was buried and committed to an eternity of silence.

Barbara Parot

St. Charles