France: 13-year-old boy commits suicide after homophobic bullying

A French teenager has taken his own life as a result of homophobic bullying at school. After coming out, 13-year-old Lucas was continuously harassed because of his sexual orientation. The Public Prosecution Service has launched an investigation into the death of the boy, who will be buried tomorrow.
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[Caution, sensitive content: suicide, homophobia]

It was known at his school in Golbey in the Vosges that 13-year-old Lucas was being bullied. When he and his mother made a report to his school in September, action was taken, French media write.

Stéphanie, a woman close to Lucas's family, criticizes the school, telling French channel RMC that Lucas's mother continued to report that the bullying continued. "The school environment, where Lucas spent three-quarters of his time, did not respond as it should have."

Lucas had come out just after his thirteenth birthday, something other kids had a hard time accepting, says Stéphanie. She remembers Lucas as a happy boy. "He always smiled, that little one! Always kind, always thoughtful, always spontaneous, always full of dreams and desires."

Lucas' mother has written a letter calling for a firmer approach to bullying in schools. "Lucas, our little man, is one victim too many. How many silent marches, how many suffering children and cruelly affected families will it take to finally take concrete action so that children can go to school without bullying?"

A fundraiser to raise money for Lucas' funeral has already raised 7,500 euros.

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