Ronin Shimizu, a 12 year-old former student at Folsom Middle School in Folsom, California, is believed to have committed suicide earlier this week following unrelenting bullying at school. He died Wednesday, December 3rd before 3pm, according to reports. Ronin, a sixth grader and cheerleader at the school, was the victim of continuous bullying by his peers according to his fellow students due to his activities and perceived sexual preference. The school acknowledged that Ronin’s parents lodged several complaints, and that they followed protocol for such situations, but students say the bullying simply wouldn’t stop. It had progressed to the point where Ronin needed to be home-schooled, though with the use of social media, the bullying never actually stopped.
Officially, the police department has not released any information regarding Ronin’s death, however it was ruled “non-suspicious,” meaning the police don’t believe a criminal act was the cause. Parents, friends, and fellow students have indicated to the media, however, that Ronin likely took his own life due to the bullying he had to endure. These students and parents, to include Ronin’s cheerleading teammates, condemned the bullying, and mourn his passing. This e-mail from Folsom Middle School principal John Bliss was posted by ABC news:
“Dear Folsom Middle families: I’m writing with a heavy heart today. By now you have heard about the tragic death of one of our former students. Ronin Shimizu briefly attended Folsom Middle last year as a sixth-grader, and this news has deeply saddened many of our students and staff who knew him.
Today we have and will continue to provide counseling and support to students and staff who need assistance dealing with their grief. And while do not know all of the circumstances surrounding Ronin’s passing, we will continue our work to maintain a safe, caring and positive school environment free from bullying and harassment.
I encourage you to talk to you child about how they are processing this news, what feelings they may be experiencing and if they need any help. In the meantime, please keep this student’s family in your thoughts during this difficult time. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Thank you,
Principal John Bliss”
To break my objectivity for a moment, I wish to implore any of you with children to discuss bullying with them, both as someone who could be bullied, and as someone who might bully. This behavior kills, and it gets worse for LGBT students, or in many cases such as this, students?perceived to be LGBT:
“Gay and lesbian teens are two to three times as more likely to commit teen suicide than other youths. About 30 percent of all completed suicides have been related to sexual identity crisis. Students who also fall into the gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgendered identity groups report being five times as more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe after being bullied due to their sexual orientation. About 28 percent out of those groups feel forced to drop out of school altogether…In a 2005 survey about gay bullying statistics, teens reported that the number two reason they are bullied is because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender expression.”?–bullyingstatistics.org
Bullying people, for any reason, has become a serious epidemic with disastrous consequences. With youth suicide already on the rise, it’s time for everyone to take a stand against bullying. We have lost a?young person to these incredibly destructive attitudes, where a young boy who liked cheerleading and making his own clothes was accused of being gay, but Ronin wasn’t the first, and likely won’t be the last. If you know someone you believe to be in danger of suicide due to LGBT perception-induced bullying, contact The Trevor Project at?1-866-488-7386.
Thursday, Ronin’s parents held a vigil in front of their home for their son. Several students and members of the community attended, some not even knowing Ronin directly, according to The Sacramento Bee.?However, the close-knit community?wanted to show their support for Ronin’s parents, friends, teammates, and Ronin himself.
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David Pham is a proud Gaytheist, Gaymer, and Iraq veteran who staunchlysupports minority rights and the separation of church and state. When he’s not writing, he can usually be found reading, gaming, and cracking jokes at inappropriate times. He studies Psychology and is pursuing a Ph.D. in the field.
