Homophobic Bullying Takes Life of Another U.S. Teen, 14

A 14-year-old upstate New Yorker, Jamey Rodemeyer, was found dead outside his home this week, apparently the latest string of teenage suicides in the U.S. caused by mental harassment and bullying over sexuality, police said.

Rodemeyer complained about being abused and bullied after talking online about homophobic attacks on him.

On a popular Web site, he received violent and abusive such messages as JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT ANND UGLY. HE MUST DIE! and I wouldn't care if you died. No one would. So just do it :) It would make everyone WAY more happier!

In one of his posts to YouTube, he said People would just keep sending me hate, telling me that gay people go to hell.

Reportedly, he endured constant bullying for being gay from classmates at Williamsville North High School near Buffalo, N.Y., both in person and virtually.

In an online posting earlier this month, Rodemeyer wrote: I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens. What do I have to do so people will listen to me?

It was a constant taunting, his mother, Tracy, told NBC affiliate WGRZ. The same people over and over.

According to Tracy Rodemeyer, Jamey had spoken to his family and counselors openly about his sexuality and appeared strong as he entered high school this fall.

Lately, he's been blowing them off, or at least we thought he was, she told the Buffalo News.

Despite reports to guidance counselors, cyberbullies continued to taunt the teen virtually, leaving comments on his social media accounts.

In May, Rodemeyer posted an anti-bullying video on YouTube, entitled It Gets Better, I promise! encouraging others to stay strong, according to ABC News.

Rodemeyer made two final posts Sunday. One said he wanted to see his late great-grandmother, and the other he dedicated to Lady Gaga, his favourite singer, who inspired him with her anthem to self-confidence Born This Way.

His body was found Monday, days before the first-ever national summit against bullying.

According to statistics, 28 percent of teens aged 12 to 18 said they have been bullied at school during 2008-2009, reports the National Center for Educational Statistics.

The U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. had a national summit against bullying planned for Wednesday.

The suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer comes a year after a wave of gay youth suicides, including the highly publicized case of Tyler Clementi, a gay 18-year-old Rutgers University student who jumped off the George Washington Bridge after being surreptitiously taped by his college roommate.