Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover was an 11-year-old boy who hanged himself in his bedroom after enduring constant bullying from his peers at school. The boy was repeatedly called "gay" by bullies at the New Leadership Charter School, even after his mother, Sirdeaner L. Walker, urged administration to address the problem.ABCNews: When Words Can Kill: 'That's So Gay' (April 14, 2009)
His mother, Sirdeaner L. Walker, appeared on the May 6, 2009, episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show alongside the mother of Jaheem Herrera, another young boy who committed suicide after he was bullied in school.Oprah.com: The Truth About Bullying
2009 Day of Silence
Organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the Day of Silence calls to attention the anti-gay harassment, name-calling and bullying that occurs in schools. Started by Maria Pulzetti in 1996, the Day of Silence organizers have unofficially dedicated the 2009 observance to Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover. It is of an "unofficial" status because Walker-Hoover did not identify himself as homosexual.ABCNews: When Words Can Kill: 'That's So Gay' (April 14, 2009)
References
Fast Facts
-
Age at the time of death
11
-
Born
-
Fact:
Committed suicide on April 6, 2009
-
Fact:
Hanged himself with an extension cord in his bedroom
-
Fact:
Resided in Springfield, Massachusetts
-
Mother
Sirdeaner L. Walker
-
Attended
New Leadership Charter School
-
Fact:
Was repeatedly called "gay" by peers at school
-
Fact:
The 2009 observance of the annual Day Of Silence unofficially dedicated to Walker
-
Fact:
Day of Silence organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
