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.
4 comments:
Fuck! That's a hard-hitting message - good on Madge! I know that GaGa does it, and I'm even more proud of Cyndi for her tireless support, but this is possibly the biggest star in the pop universe (Miss Ross and MegaBabs aside) making a public statement. Excellent! Jx
Leave it to M to shove things down people's throats :) One of the many reasons why I love her so much!
So you love her, I thought she only had eyes for me.....
I love that she is doing this on her tour, because it will get alot of notice from people that don't really think anything of it now.
I love when M showes things down peoples throats ;)
Well, she only has eyes for US!
I agree, I think that she will draw a lot of attention to bullying by doing this on her tour, and hopefully reach people that need to seriously reconsider their behavior. And also, sending the message to kids that are being bullied that it will end and they just need to try and stay strong for a little longer...
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