Phillip Parker
Fourteen year old Phillip is described by his Mom as fun, energetic and happy. It's a sentiment echoed by almost everyone who knew him. He was a thoughtful, compassionate young man who always had a kind word or a hug to give anyone in need of either. According to one of Phillip's classmates, Phillip was known as the boy who told everyone that they were beautiful.
He was adored by his family and friends alike. Even at age 14 Phillip knew that he was gay. He was out and he was proud and made no excuses for who and what he was. He accepted himself fully, as did his family and friends. Unfortunately, there were some who weren't so accepting - In fact, they were positively cruel.
Phillip was bullied for almost a year because of his sexuality and endured homophobic slurs on a daily basis. Eventually it became too much for Phillip and he hanged himself in the bathroom of his family's home.
As in many cases of bullying at school, the victim's family are usually the last to know that anything was wrong. Phillips's case was no different. His parents were unaware that Phillip was being bullied. However, following his death, they were inundated by stories from Phillip's classmates describing how much he was bullied on a daily basis. Students claim that many of them reported the bullying incidents to teachers, but nothing ever seemed to be done to stop the relentless torment.
Phillip's Grandfather, Paul Harris, challenged the Gordonsville School Board, saying:
He was adored by his family and friends alike. Even at age 14 Phillip knew that he was gay. He was out and he was proud and made no excuses for who and what he was. He accepted himself fully, as did his family and friends. Unfortunately, there were some who weren't so accepting - In fact, they were positively cruel.
Phillip was bullied for almost a year because of his sexuality and endured homophobic slurs on a daily basis. Eventually it became too much for Phillip and he hanged himself in the bathroom of his family's home.
As in many cases of bullying at school, the victim's family are usually the last to know that anything was wrong. Phillips's case was no different. His parents were unaware that Phillip was being bullied. However, following his death, they were inundated by stories from Phillip's classmates describing how much he was bullied on a daily basis. Students claim that many of them reported the bullying incidents to teachers, but nothing ever seemed to be done to stop the relentless torment.
Phillip's Grandfather, Paul Harris, challenged the Gordonsville School Board, saying:
"Whether it’s verbal or physical, a counselor at the school should be on top of it, and notify the parents. We weren’t notified and Phillip didn’t tell us about it. A sweet, kind person like Phillip took it out on himself, he killed himself to get out of the pain…Because he was gay, he got mistreated physically, mentally by several people out there at school, and I am very resentful as a result of it." - Paul Harris' comments to the Gordonsville School Board.
In a simple, yet poignant reminder of the helplessness and vulnerability of teens being bullied, regardless of their age or gender, a note was found in Phillip's room after his death, which read...
"Please help me Mom." - Contents of a note that was found in Phillip's room after he ended his life.
At Phillip's funeral, mourners were urged to wear purple instead of black. Instead of traditional hymns, Lady Gaga songs were played to honor a life that was way too short.
"He [Phillip] kept telling me he had a rock on his chest. He just wanted to take the rock off [so] he could breathe." - Ruby Harris, Phillip's Grandmother