I remember standing in front of half the entire school and saying, “my name is Nathan Lopez and I am gay and I’m against bullying.” The guest speaker stopped me midway and said I was very brave for sharing this and after she said that I remember everyone started applauding and cheering.
That day I wanted to make a change, so I stood up for myself. Unfortunately, I’m now 22 and I still deal with bullying. I still see bullying.
Most bullying begins with a name or some feature that other kids can tease you about. Sometimes the teasing starts out verbal and, when the bullies get bored with it step up the teasing by hurting you physically.
Bullying isn’t impossible to stop -- it just takes education and effort. I hope one day we can all close our eyes for a second and not judge the person next to us by how they look, but instead judge them by who they are. Not their chains or snapbacks or their expensive clothes, but their hearts and souls. We are all unique and beautiful in our own special way.
Photo: some rights reserved wolfpetersonby Ana LlimetEditor’s Note: This story was originally published in We’Ced Youth Magazine Issue #2
I was in 3rd grade and I had just gotten out of the restroom when a group of girls approached me. Read More
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