Ethan's Story

Hello from Texas, my name is Olie Stringer I am 63 and I have a 16 yr old gay son that I am so very proud of and concerned for his future. He is actually my great nephew, but I have had legal custody of him since he was 2 weeks old. I have raised him and he has brought great joy to my life. He has always been a happy kid that loves people and loves helping everyone.

Ethan was involved in a trampoline accident that partially paralyzed him for a couple of weeks

He had surgery to have his cervical spine fused. This all happened in 8th grade. He was out of school most of 8th grade but was still able to keep up his work and make A's and B's to pass that year.

We have to be very careful with Ethans neck due to his injury. He doesn't have full range of motion, he can't do any contact sports and has to do his best to avoid any injury.

He was looking forward to getting back to school and finally being in high school. On Ethan's first day of high school, two boys in his class started harassing him. Ethan is gay. He doesn't make a big production of it, but he is not ashamed either. These boys went as far as grabbing him and throwing stuff at him, calling him a faggot, queer and homo. At one point, they wrote in permanent marker all over the back of his shirt and pants. we complained to the school on several occasions but all the school would do was talk to the boys. This caused a lot of emotional stress with Ethan and he started getting physically sick and missed a lot of school and his grades plummeted. Ethan attempted suicide for the first time, he spent 6 weeks in a mental hospital. He came back home we met with the school again and they promised they had taken steps to keep Ethan safe. So we are at mid term Ethan goes back to school optimistic that things will be ok and his first day back, friends of the bullies jump Ethan in the hall and start pushing him into the lockers. This scares Ethan, he was so afraid he was going to get beaten and end up paralyzed again. Ethan reports it and the next morning goes back to school with another meeting scheduled but before I can even make it to the meeting these boys hack into Ethans Chromebook account, changes his avatar to a picture of two guys kissing and blast it over the school. Ethan is a very private person and this was just the last straw. Ethan came home and attempted suicide a second time by trying to hang himself that night. I was forced to put him back in the hospital. The school still refused to expel the bullies. The schools answer was to put Ethan on a home bound program where he got 4 hours a week instruction.

Ethan ended up failing 9th grade. Over this Summer Ethan has matured so very much and we have spoken very openly about his future. He has told me he will not go back to Crandall ISD. Over the summer another boy got on social media and told Ethan he should kill himself because he is a disgusting queer. Ethan actually said he would rather die than go back to that school. He wants to finish high school so badly and get on with his life, but this is a small town and a small school system with many closed-minded people. I have spoken to several surrounding school districts and only one accepts out of district students but they require a $1000.00 one time fee and a dollar a day for each day he attends school. so each year it will only cost me around 200 for him to attend. I just need help with this first year tuition fees and the extra 300 for a few new clothes since this school has a different dress code that is not as strict.

I know there are bullies in every school but Ethan is hopeful for a fresh start with new friends in this new school system that seems to have a better understanding and respect of the gay community.

We would be forever grateful for any help that anyone can give.

if you can't donate, please share this with as many people and places as possible.

Thank You

OlieAnn Stringer

and

Ethan Lewis