Nobody Knows Me...

On November 5, 2010, fourteen year old Brandon Bitner left his Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa. home during the early morning hours and walked alone, in the cold darkness, over 6 miles to a busy intersection on US Routes 11 & 15 near Liverpool, Pa.

When he arrived at his destination, Brandon stepped out in front of a Weis Markets tractor trailer truck and committed suicide.

Brandon’s mother Tammy discovered her son’s suicide note at their home before 4 AM that tragic Friday. Brandon addressed his love for his closest family and friends but also expressed his reasons for taking his own life.

In the suicide note, Brandon described constant bullying and harassment in the Midd-West School District, which had been happening for over five years. Fellow students constantly harassed Brandon on a daily basis for his appearance and his assumed sexual preference. Brandon was called gay, faggot, sissy, emo, goth, and witnesses even saw him being physically abused in the school hallways.

Brandon also laid out a mission for his family, friends, and supporters in his suicide note. He believed that his suicide would teach the school district, the surrounding communities and maybe even the world, that bullying is not something that should be taken lightly. Brandon specifically requested that his family and friends march on in his honor, to bring awareness to bullying and the mental and physical abuse that it causes.

Madonna has asked and obtained permission to use an image of Brandon as part of her upcoming tour. Katie Goodling, Brandon's cousin, confirmed Saturday a deal with Adamsky Film Production of Stockholm to use Brandon’s photo, one of seven portraits of bullying victims to run in the video.

"I just mailed out a contract granting Madonna's touring company permission to use Brandon's photo in a video sequence for her 2012-2013 World Tour. More details to come, including info on Madonna donating to Brandon's scholarship!" Katie said.

Reports are saying that the video will be used in an interlude with "Nobody Knows Me" playing. 

I wonder if those fucking airheads who bullied Brandon were even bothered by his suicide! These things NEED to get a lot more attention - thankfully, people like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga have always made sure to use their status to turn the spotlight on minority groups and injustice. We just need a lot more people like that to try and make a difference.