Mother's Viral Photo Exposes Severe, Unmanageable Bullying Problem At Texas School
The mother of an 11-year-old boy who endures relentless anti-gay bullying at school received an outpouring of support from the Internet this weekend after a photo detailing her son's story went viral on Facebook.
Although her son, sixth grader Jesus "Jesse" Franco, does not identify as gay, Vanessa Tijerina-Arguelles told Towleroad on Saturday that he has a learning disability and has trouble socializing and making friends. As a result, he's targeted by classmates and parents of classmates with anti-gay bullying, verbal harassment and physical "gay bashings" on a regular basis.
She posted the photo above on Facebook out of frustration as a last resort. She claims officials at the Raymondville, Texas school district where her son goes have refused to handle the situation properly and failed to make the school a safe environment for her child. According to the signs Jesse is holding above, he was suspended for defending himself against bullies in a recent incident.
Tijerina-Arguelles snapped the photo on Friday morning before Jesse left for school. She says Jesse didn't pose for the photo "because he did not want to go; it was because he was afraid if he fought back that he would be punished again, and they wouldn't care that he was defending himself."
The signs read:
"Hello! I'm Jesus (Jesse) Franco. I'm not gay, still, I get called gay and faggot at my school, every day. Raymondville (TX) Independent School District does nothing. My parents & I have tried 2 get them 2 do something about it. The last time I was attacked, I got 2 days out of school suspension for overcoming the bully, defending myself. Parents of these kids are bullies 2. Maybe that's why the school doesn't act & the kid(s) don't stop? Please share so other kids, like me, can see they are not alone. The school may violate my freedom of speech and my right to (silent) protest; they have given me no choice, no help. Thank you. NO H8.
According to Tijerina-Arguelles, Jesse grew fond of the NOH8 campaign after asking why there were no organizations that helped people in circumstances like his.
She told Towleroad:
"I said, 'Oh honey, there are many, some have been around forever. The newest one is NOH8. Have you heard of it?' ... I logged online and showed him the campaign. He said, 'I bet no one in Raymondville knows about that.' I said: 'I bet you're right. You want people to know about that?' He nodded. And voila! We made it happen. He got there [to school] and only one girl knew what it was about. Teachers asked him, 'Is that gang related?' He said, 'No, I support gays and their rights.' So proud of my boy. Others took out markers and followed suit."
Within hours, the photo was reposted by the NOH8 campaign and went viral shortly after. A number of commenters have vowed to contact the Raymondville school superintendent Monday and a few attorneys have even offered pro bono advice and access to legal resources.
Tomorrow should be an exciting school day for Jesse, to say the least.
