The parents of a 12-year-old boy who took his own life after being subjected to*anti-gay bullying*at school spoke out, saying everyone in their circle "failed him."
Fellow classmates at Cascades Middle School in Bedford County in Tennessee repeatedly harassed and taunted*Eli Fritchley*for his outfits and mannerisms. They also said he would go to hell because he was gay.
The bullying was too much to bear, and on November 28, the seventh-grader committed suicide.?He was told because he didn?t necessarily have a religion and that he said he was gay that he was going to go to Hell. They told him that quite often,? she recalled of the bullying Eli endured.The grieving parents said they were aware of the bullying but didn't know to what extent Eli had been suffering because of it.
Through tears, Steve, said:
"It was really abusive. I don?t think it was ever physical. I think it was just words, but words hurt. They really hurt."
Debbey, who made the tragic discovery on Sunday explained what it has been like for her and Steve since losing their boy.?That?s been really hard. That image was terrible until we got to hold him yesterday. Now that image is gone, because the only thing we could think of yesterday when we were kissing and loving on him was how angelic he looked."
"He absolutely looked angelic. He?s just an angel.?
The Fritchleys are in the process of setting up a foundation to help educate people on bullying and to spread awareness ensuring no child or parent will suffer the same heartache.