Bullied Teen Whose Beating Was Caught On Video Speaks Out

A Chillicothe, Ohio high school student who was knocked down and punched in the face several times by a classmate is speaking out about the attack. 

The 15-year-old tells Ohio TV station TV10.com that,”based on a comment his attacker posted on Facebook the night before, he believes he was beaten because he is gay.  The teen said he had been a target for bullies for years.”

The teen and his mother tell the station that their repeated complaints to school administrators fell on deaf ears.

“He basically said ‘There’s a few gay kids in school and you’re the only one they have problems with. So, what can you do to tone yourself down?'” The student tells TV10.com.

Equity Ohio says “Union-Scioto, the school district, has no policy in place that specifically protects students from being bullied or attacked based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Union-Scioto Local School District does have a policy that prohibits harassment based on sex, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, among others, but it does not specifically protect against harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The ACLU of Ohio  have announced that they are representing the teen in possible legal action against the district.

ACLU of Ohio Legal Director, James Hardiman, tells TV10.com that “The school district should have protected (the teen) and they failed.”

The bully in the case was charged with one count of assault days after the attack.

You can watch the interview HERE.