Thylacine
December 10th, 2011, 04:11 AM
My name is Liam, I'm 16 and I'm a 'queer' teen from New Zealand. This is my story.
My dad was your normal kiwi bloke: beer, rugby and motorbikes, my mum your normal kiwi girl: kids, baking and a bit of 'getting your a into g'. My sister's name is Sophie she's 14 and is a normal girl: boys, shopping and gossip. I am however... well a bit odd. I was a happy little kid who played around naked and was happy in every way. I had no shame at all.
I started school in November in 2001 at the small local catholic school. When Dad left me on the first day I screamed and I cried. Home was all I had known and now there were all these new people and it was all overwhelming. This happy little boy had some challenges coming. In the ensuing weeks several events occurred that would form a precursor to the events of my entire schooling career. The kids locked a terrified 5 year old in the teacher's office and I was called a 'skinny shit' by a boy called Oliver. He would go on to bully me until I left that school in year 3. Such events as being dragged around the school by my legs will always haunt me. I tried to run. I tried to lock myself in the tennis court. But the bastards got me. Now taking 'boys kiss girls' over the top did not help my reputation and before I knew it I was the 'kissie boy'. The bullying I received was unwarranted and cruel. Leaving that school for two and a half years was a respite at least.
I never made a lot of friends at that school, I'd always found that difficult but I did not endure the same torment that I went through at my previous school. For the most part those were fun years however when my sister returned to that school in 2006 I returned too. As her brother I couldn't be separated from her.
Those three years were complete and utter hell. Those kids bullied me mercilessly until I left for high school. I was called all sorts of horrible things but 'homo' is one I distinctly remember. I can especially remember one case where I told the principal about one incident where one of her favorites called me a homo, she defended him and said he was only joking. It was so unfair. I went through all that shit and he received no punishment at all. Later on when his friends called him a homo he cried his eyes out. I have recently heard from friends that he is gay too. I don't know if it's true or not but if so it's really ironic. The whole school seemed to hate me and I had three friends, when I left for high school I was so happy.
At high school I was still bullied this has recently stopped after a management crackdown after three years of hell. At this school many hurtful remarks were made, jokes about me having sex with a menagerie of different things including animals and little boys. This bullying mainly came from one student but there were many others. He once said in front of my whole class that I had forsaken god and on another occasion that they should throw holy water at me. I was teased by him about my sexuality and religious beliefs consistently by him. I hated my life. In those three years the school counselor attempted to end this bullying but it continued. This treatment left me feeling suicidal and alone. If it had not been for some of my wonderful proactive friends I would still be suffering this hell or I may have taken my life. Ryan, Johann, James, Shaetrun and Lachie just to name a few who were involved in 'Operation Happy' I love you guys, thank you so much. Quite literally I owe you my life.
This Year I came out to my classmates, It was a roller coaster journey but I finally feel reasonably happy about who I am. There is a lot of work to do but I am getting there and I owe my classmates so much for being so supportive and not giving me shit. With a few exceptions. Without you I would be broken and my life would be hell. I was so scared of what would or could happen but you guys all made it ok. I'm a proud member of our school and I feel like I am accepted. Those few who have a problem with me are easy to ignore.
I am by no means a perfect person over the years I have made many mistakes and offended many people. To them I am sorry. I try to be the best person I can be. I am still working on my self esteem and confidence. Standing up straight and not looking at my feet is a daily challenge, Anyway I hope my story got you thinking and if you need someone to talk to PM me. :)
PS: This story is by no means a chronicle of my life. Many other events occurred but I could never list them all. :).
My dad was your normal kiwi bloke: beer, rugby and motorbikes, my mum your normal kiwi girl: kids, baking and a bit of 'getting your a into g'. My sister's name is Sophie she's 14 and is a normal girl: boys, shopping and gossip. I am however... well a bit odd. I was a happy little kid who played around naked and was happy in every way. I had no shame at all.
I started school in November in 2001 at the small local catholic school. When Dad left me on the first day I screamed and I cried. Home was all I had known and now there were all these new people and it was all overwhelming. This happy little boy had some challenges coming. In the ensuing weeks several events occurred that would form a precursor to the events of my entire schooling career. The kids locked a terrified 5 year old in the teacher's office and I was called a 'skinny shit' by a boy called Oliver. He would go on to bully me until I left that school in year 3. Such events as being dragged around the school by my legs will always haunt me. I tried to run. I tried to lock myself in the tennis court. But the bastards got me. Now taking 'boys kiss girls' over the top did not help my reputation and before I knew it I was the 'kissie boy'. The bullying I received was unwarranted and cruel. Leaving that school for two and a half years was a respite at least.
I never made a lot of friends at that school, I'd always found that difficult but I did not endure the same torment that I went through at my previous school. For the most part those were fun years however when my sister returned to that school in 2006 I returned too. As her brother I couldn't be separated from her.
Those three years were complete and utter hell. Those kids bullied me mercilessly until I left for high school. I was called all sorts of horrible things but 'homo' is one I distinctly remember. I can especially remember one case where I told the principal about one incident where one of her favorites called me a homo, she defended him and said he was only joking. It was so unfair. I went through all that shit and he received no punishment at all. Later on when his friends called him a homo he cried his eyes out. I have recently heard from friends that he is gay too. I don't know if it's true or not but if so it's really ironic. The whole school seemed to hate me and I had three friends, when I left for high school I was so happy.
At high school I was still bullied this has recently stopped after a management crackdown after three years of hell. At this school many hurtful remarks were made, jokes about me having sex with a menagerie of different things including animals and little boys. This bullying mainly came from one student but there were many others. He once said in front of my whole class that I had forsaken god and on another occasion that they should throw holy water at me. I was teased by him about my sexuality and religious beliefs consistently by him. I hated my life. In those three years the school counselor attempted to end this bullying but it continued. This treatment left me feeling suicidal and alone. If it had not been for some of my wonderful proactive friends I would still be suffering this hell or I may have taken my life. Ryan, Johann, James, Shaetrun and Lachie just to name a few who were involved in 'Operation Happy' I love you guys, thank you so much. Quite literally I owe you my life.
This Year I came out to my classmates, It was a roller coaster journey but I finally feel reasonably happy about who I am. There is a lot of work to do but I am getting there and I owe my classmates so much for being so supportive and not giving me shit. With a few exceptions. Without you I would be broken and my life would be hell. I was so scared of what would or could happen but you guys all made it ok. I'm a proud member of our school and I feel like I am accepted. Those few who have a problem with me are easy to ignore.
I am by no means a perfect person over the years I have made many mistakes and offended many people. To them I am sorry. I try to be the best person I can be. I am still working on my self esteem and confidence. Standing up straight and not looking at my feet is a daily challenge, Anyway I hope my story got you thinking and if you need someone to talk to PM me. :)
PS: This story is by no means a chronicle of my life. Many other events occurred but I could never list them all. :).