DENVER, CO. (THECOUNT) — Denver mom, Leia Pierce, said her son killed himself in their home on Thursday after being bullied at school. She says her son’s death stemmed from his coming out to her as gay over the summer.
Pierce says her 9-year-old son, Jamel Myles, committed suicide at their home after she says the 4th grader revealed to her that he was gay. The boy then made the announcement to his classmates.
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Pierce says bullying was a factor in the death of her son, Jamel Myles. He started fourth grade at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School on Monday:
“And he looked so scared when he told me. He was like, ‘Mom I’m gay.’ And I thought he was playing, so I looked back because I was driving, and he was all curled up, so scared. And I said, I still love you,” Pierce told reporters. source
Pierce said her son wanted to tell his classmates.
“He went to school and said he was gonna tell people he’s gay because he’s proud of himself,” she said.
Pierce said when he came out, he opened up about wanting to dress more femininely.
“And he goes, ‘Can I be honest with you?'” Pierce said. “And I was like sure, and he’s like, ‘I know you buy me boy stuff because I’m a boy, but I’d rather dress like a girl.'”
On Thursday, four days into the school year, Jamel took his own life. Pierce found her son dead in their Denver home.
The Denver Police Department is investigating the death as a suicide.