Middle schooler beaten & choked for wearing Pride flag to school

[Behind the Aegis]

Although he was already out to some of his friends, Tristen Torrez wanted to be brave and come out to his entire middle school community in a subtle, simple way before the school year ended. So last week, he wore a Pride flag to school.

The 14-year-old expected to receive some kind of backlash as a result, but what actually happened was worse than he imagined. Outside of the school’s field, he was slammed onto bleachers by one student, punched and dragged repeatedly, choked, and drenched with water — all while other students surrounded him and one recorded.

Torrez said he did not know the student and hadn’t interacted with them in his time attending Defiance Middle School in Ohio prior to the assault.

But he had heard that something might happen right before the attack started.

more...

[applegrove]

1. Hate crime.

[vercetti2021]

2. That is disgusting

Not just a bully but the stupid fucking kids not helping him and one recording? God damnit we devolved so much

[jimfields33]

3. Been going on forever

Gays were tortured every decade at school and nobody did a thing. You weren’t aware because Internet was not around.

[Mariana]

13. Do you think Christians persecuting gay people is a new thing? nt.

[vercetti2021]

14. No

But I expect new generation of kids to be more accepting

[RockRaven]

4. Fucking school superintendent says this "is not and will not be tolerated" so what did he do...?

He sent a letter to the school community, and referred the incident to law enforcement....

Be still, my beating heart. Can you believe that bold move? A sternly worded letter to everyone and no one all at once. And a referral to law enforcement of information publicly available (i.e. all over the internet already). What leadership! What boldness! This superintendent is really going places, he's ready for the big time! State Dept of Ed here he comes!


This isn't complicated. Expel the assailant. Suspend the encouragers/gawkers.

[orleans]

5. agree 100 percent. expel and suspend & then that superintendent needs to resign n/t

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Expel In Early June???

There's no penalty.
At the beginning of the next school year, the kid's parents can apply for reinstatement!
There wouldn't even be a grade impact.
I think putting it in the hands of legal authorities is higher impact.
Expelling a likely 8th grader is a symbolic, but useless step.

[Solly Mack]

6. Yep

[budkin]

7. Middle schoolers are the fucking worst

This gives me PTSD.

[Withywindle]

8. Hate is taught

And it's reinforced by adults who blame the victims and exonerate the abusers.

[blueinredohio]

9. This is not far from where I live.

And we have lots of people who feel this way. I've said before this area votes 75% republican. Need I say more?

[634-5789]

10. Kids learn that type of hatred at home. There's your problem.

[Mariana]

12. They also learn it in church. nt.

[roamer65]

15. Defiance, Ohio.

Not surprised.

That area of Ohio is a lot like Hillsdale, MI and Angola, IN.

Full of deplorables.