April 6, 2010

>Take Five Minutes to Remember Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover

>Today is the one year anniversary of 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker Hoover’s suicide due to bullying. His mother Sirdeaner Walker and GLSEN have launched a petition and call to action in support of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, a federal anti-bullying bill with 101 bipartisan cosponsors.

Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover took his life on April 6, 2009, after enduring constant bullying at school, including being called “gay” and a “faggot” despite the fact he did not identify as gay.

The petition can be found HERE. A Facebook event encouraging those concerned about bullying to spend five minutes in memory of Carl on April 6 and call their Representative can be found at HERE.

“It is difficult to put into words what it feels like to remember that terrible day,” Walker said. “But it is not difficult at all to do something positive in Carl’s memory. That is why I hope you will join me in taking a moment from your busy day to reflect on Carl’s life and his tragic suicide – and to remember that bullying in schools has very serious and life-threatening consequences.”

   

About Elizabeth Free

       

Elizabeth Free is the communications manager at GLSEN--the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. Elizabeth joined GLSEN in 2009 to make schools safer for all students and says one of the best parts of her job is working with GLSEN's Student Ambassadors. She is originally from Texas and has a B.A. in Public Relations and Advertising from the University of Houston.