A high school senior and basketball player for St. Peter High School in St. Peter, Minnesota has gone public with disgusting details of the homophobic taunting he–and his teammates–had to endure at the hands of a rival school.
Alex Bosacker, 18, publicly came out as gay late last year. The decorated scholar-athlete received an outpouring of support from his teammates and coach at the time.
Flash forward to this January. When Bosacker took to the court in a game against rival school New Ulm, players on the other team began to shout that Bosacker was trying to grab other players’ crotches. That homophobic harassment continued at a game against New Ulm in February, when another player kept whispering homophobic comments and pinching him during the game. The experience left him covered in bruises.
“The experience was awful,” Bosacker told The Star Tribune. “I wanted to leave the court, to just leave my body at some points.”
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New Ulm later claimed it had punished the player in question for his behavior, though it did not disclose any details to the public.
And still, it got worse. Last week, St. Peter played New Ulm again. Fans of St. Peter wore rainbow colors to show their support for Bosacker and the team. Still, according to Bosacker, the same player began pinching him again. Then on the bus ride back to the school, things took a violent turn.
As the team drove home on a two-lane road, a pair of cars approached the bus. One car passed the bus and swerved in front of it, prompting the bus driver to slam on the brakes. The other car then pulled up next to the bus, and the team began to panic as they heard the sound of rapid-fire projectiles hitting the side of the vehicle.
Related: Illinois high school students form “Anti-Queer Association”
Fortunately, the projectiles just turned out to be water beads. Nobody on the bus was physically hurt, but everyone was frightened at the incident.
The Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office later issued citations to four New Ulm students for disorderly conduct. The maximum penalty for the misdemeanor is 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine, or both.
Jeff Bertrang, New Ulm’s superintendent, later denied that the bus incident had any connection to the homophobic harassment of Bosacker. “It was four individuals making a really poor decision,” he said. “But perception matters. … One incident can reflect poorly on all of us.”
Angela Bosacker, mother of Alex, however, disagrees.
“A bunch of us feel this was in retaliation for our student section wearing rainbow pride colors,” she said. “What if the bus driver had panicked? They could have caused an accident.”
For Alex Bosacker, the episode adds a bitter taste to his final year with St. Peter.
“I hate it so much,” Bosacker said. “I just wanted to have fun this year, have one last hurrah with all my friends.”
The incident with New Ulm is the latest in a string of homophobic incidents in high schools around the country. Last year, student at Anna-Jonesboro Community High School in Illinois united to form an “Anti-Queer” association. In Florida, video captured students attacking members of the school’s gay-straight alliance and defacing the pride flag. In Utah, video also showed students cheering as a classmate tore down the school’s pride flag.
Kangol2
Wouldn’t that New Ulm player’s constant harassment, grabbing, pinching of Bosacker and comments on the basketball court lead to a technical foul or multiple ones? The same also could apply to homophobic catcalls or other comments from the New Ulm fans, so did the refs just ignore it or what?
Also, the road incident could have led to all the kids on the bus being badly injured, so it seems the “discipline” the New Ulm teenagers–or whoever it was–that nearly made that bus have an accident should be facing stronger charges.
One positive aspect of this story is that this young man’s schoolmates, teammates, coaches, and schoolmates’ parents openly and publicly supported him.
MarcyMayer
Kangol2:
It’s very telling that many of these homophobic incidents are occurring in “tolerant,” blue (Democrat-controlled) states (Minnesota & Illinois).
Cam
@MarcyMayer
Because in Red states he would have been kicked off the team or beaten by his own teamates.
man5996853
@marcymayer–Most blue states are dominated by red districts. They population of liberal voters is concentrated heavily in the cities. Outside of the cities, you just have the American taliban.
Deek62
It appears that homophobia is still alive and well in the good ole USA (“land of the free and home of the brave”?!?!?). And let’s not forget what’s happening in Florida.
masteradrian031
“It appears that homophobia is still alive and well in the good ole USA (“land of the free and home of the brave”?!?!?)”
Were have you been hiding? Read the papers and you see all over the USA that day in day out LGBTQ+ people are harrassed, attacked, spit at, kicked, physically attacked, wounded and subject to abject GBTQ+ haters!
As long as there is one single gay-person attacked (in what way ever, housing, school, work) the USA is a country claiming to tbe defending freedom and liberty on foreign soil but meanwhile being silent domestically on the most atrocious practices against LGBTQ+ people, citizens of the USA!
jt1990
What’s happening in Florida? From my view, the weather’s gorgeous and people here are out living their lives! In part, thanks to our great governor!
Now with homophobia, I’m just not seeing it. Bullying and meanness in general have always existed. It stems mostly from jealousy, insecurity, and the need to compete. Hate for the sake of hate is pretty rare. Now turn of the CNN and see the real world for what it is, ya silly Liberal 🙂
Den
Your great governor?
Who gifted Florida with one of the highest levels of per capita death, hospitalization and infection from Covid over the course of the last two years? Who made it difficult for those who had the intelligence to try and protect themselves and their community by stupidly opposing sound public health policy? Who, if one is to believe his spokeswoman, backwardly equates homosexuality with pedophilia and considers his new ant-gay bill to be an anti-grooming bill? Who denies the reality of climate change even as its results actively erode and flood his state?
Just how stupid are you people anyway? Why do you suppose LGBT people are overwhelmingly registered as democrats? It is because we know who has our back, and it is not right wing heteros like you!
kevstar69
What’s happening in Florid-Duh is your Y trash governor DeadSantas has a bill where he’s outlawing free speech with his Don’t Say Gay bill. He resides over a state with the lowest vaccination rates in the country. Plus he has a face only a sledgehammer would love!
masteradrian031
1. There is no homophobism, there is anti-gay hatred!
There are no homophobes (as it means “fear for homo”), it is pure and simple homo-hate, gay-hate!
Stop referring to homo-haters as ones who fear LGBTQ+ people, they do not fear them, they hate LGBTQ+ people!
2. The school from New Ulm (obviously descending from german immigrants as Ulm is a city in Germany) is not an incident obvioulsy as it was repeated, it is a structural problem with the New Ulmers from that school, and probably the whole community!
The authorities at the school have a structural problem of homo-haters on their hands, and they MUST tackle it! When not the school is producing future homo-killers and murderers, as when nothing is done openly and publicly these homo-haters are thinking they can get away with it, while they are the lowest scumbags on the face of the earth!
jt1990
WRONG! People believing racism/anti-lgbt still exists in huge quantities is what gets Democrats elected. So please stop spreading misinformation!
Den
As is typical of right wingers you mistake your beliefs as reality. It is called “magical thinking” and you (and fellow right wingers) should have outgrown it by the age of 10!
Actual statistics (called empirical reality, as in “not your imagination”) indicate an increase in both violent and verbal incidents based on racism, sexism, religious bigotry, and hatred of the LGBT community over the last several years. YOU are the one spreading misinformation. Democrats get elected because they address issues of substance and issues that most Americans support. The right is losing ground because all they offer is stupid “culture wars” crap, lies and division. The majority of Amerricans are not as stupid as you or as your kind like to think.
jt1990
Den you believe those ‘actual statistics’ are accurately reported and not doctored to fit the reporter’s agenda? Now that’s some magical thinking Harry Potter himself couldn’t wrap his mind around!
Den
I don’t “believe it” I know it, given the repeatability of the statistics in question. Damn you are a dullard. Your imagination is NOT reality. Learn how to use your brain or be a laughingstock among the adults you might possible interact with.
Your kind denies science all the time based on the childish fear of conspiracies. The notion that all pollsters, academics, sociologists, etc have some hidden agenda that only a tiny group of right wingers can see is so ludicrous as to call your mental health into question.
Bonerboy
@jt1990 Why do you keep ignoring Den’s reminder of your truly vile quote. Oh, I know why. It’s the same reason you don’t “believe” statistics. It’s the same AND ONLY reason you come on here. Not to battle disinformation. It’s because a part of you knows you’re a bad person. Probably even a little bit evil. Oh, you probably are very nice when it’s convenient–even to people who are not even like you! You might even help a neighbor–or even a stranger! Maybe a stranger of color!! You KNOW you are a good person, you just KNOW IT. Yet deep down, you know you are a selfish, hateful, nasty, probably untrustworthy piece of human excrement. And the good gays on this board, with their open minds and obvious righteous kindness make you realize what you are lacking. And it’s so easy for you to hate, but hate on a forum such as this has nowhere to really go, so all you can do is let us know how “wrong” we are. You’re not going to convince anyone here. It’s ignorant of you even to try. But you know that. You can’t confront any of us face to face (and I’m sure you’d like to do more than just “confront” us) so this is all you can do. I sometimes just wish you and your ilk would just accept the fact that you are evil, don’t try to cloud it, just embrace your awfulness. It would be much more honest.
Cam
@jt1990
The right wing, anti-LGBGQ troll will always attack LGBTQ people and defend bigots.
MarcyMayer
Den:
You stated: “The right is losing ground because all they offer is stupid “culture wars” crap, lies and division. The majority of Americans are not as stupid as you or as your kind like to think.”
All the polls show that a Red Wave is coming this November. You better get your life preserver ready to wear.
Bwahaha!!!
Cam
@MarcyMayer
Except all of your screenames kept claiming that same red wave was coming in the last election, you know, the one Biden won and the Dems had the House and Senate?
Oh, and while you’re at it, care to point us to the supposed polls you’re referencing?
Your troll game is sad and weak.
v6origal97
Can they remove New Ulm from their schedule? I would think that with repeated harassment, whatever governing body for local highschool basketball would have the authority to both prevent this through no longer allowing the teams to play, as well as possibly benching New Ulm for a few games.
It’s fantastic that this young man’s own school and community have come out to support him.
jt1990
Better yet, leave them on the schedule and beat the hell outta them every year! Take Nick Sabin, Alabama’s head football coach for example. Every game I hear opposing fans make fun of everything from his height to the bald spot on the back of his head. It seems like the more obnoxious the fans are, the more Alabama runs up the score. If I were this basketball teams coach, I’d have them take a lesson from my alma mater! Give them a reason to not like you, besides the campy outfits
Den
@jt1990
“ had no idea Herbert the Pervert was dead. And I’ve watched about every episode of Family Guy! Last I heard he was President….doing ok but having some memory issues”
THIS comment you left on an article about the brutal murder of a gay man tells us all we need to know about you. You’re scum. That is all you are.
Go away, you make decent people sick to their stomachs.
The last thing we need here is hetero scumbags filled with hatred for others. And that is clearly what you are.
jt1990
For those of you who never played sports, this is very typical rivalry behavior. If there was a real homophobia issue, the player’s own teammates would not have shown support dressing in rainbow colors. And I doubt the coach would continue letting him play!
Rival players and fans will resort to ANYTHING to taunt the opponent; this wasn’t personal or a display of hate against lgbt. Mr. Bosaker gave them ammo by coming out as gay. Speaking of ammo, kids shoot at buses and cars all the time here in Florida. For no particular reason besides they’re little a$$holes who think no one will shoot back.
Also, the guy doing the pinching sounds like a DL/closet case. I wouldn’t call that homophobic; he just may not be old enough to understand what consent means. He will likely need a lawyer at some point.
Den
” If there was a real homophobia issue, the player’s own teammates would not have shown support dressing in rainbow colors.”
“Rival players and fans will resort to ANYTHING to taunt the opponent; this wasn’t personal or a display of hate against lgbt. Mr. Bosaker gave them ammo by coming out as gay.”
Once again the same right winger as posted above displays an inability to separate their prejudices and biases from reality. First of all, the article makes it clear that the anti-gay sentiment was from the other school, and that schoolmates dressed in rainbow colors IN RESPONSE to anti-gay taunting, both verbal and physical. Perhaps you (like so many of your ilk) need remedial reading help. Second…one almost never sees taunting based on religious, racial, or ethnic difference at high school games, and if they did it would be instantly dealt with. So, you twit, this was quite obviously a personal attack and a display of hatred for LGBT kids. But as is typical for your kind as well, you blame the victim. All would have great if he had just stayed in the closet as you creeps feel we all should.
I can muster no respect or regard for your kind, nor understand why you would even come to this site to share your stupidity and prejudice. Yes, we understand freedom of speech (you most likely do not). But talk trash, present idiocy as if it has some basis in fact and expect to be trashed and considered an idiot.
Mack
Thank you for your bigoted backwards comment.
Jaquelope
Well said, Den. I agree with you, and would have said something, but you said it much more eloquently than I ever could. Thank you.
chris thau
First off your comment that “Mr. Bosaker gave them ammo by coming out” is despicable. Are you saying it’s his fault? Certainly sounds like it.
Next, your comment about kids shooting at cars and buses in Florida leaves me a bit non-plussed. I’ve lived in Florida many years (my family has owned homes down year since 1968) and I haven’t seen any reports of that activity. What I have seen, however, is a significant increase in homicides. In just the last three days a man was shot at a high-end Fort Lauderdale restaurant and two people were shot on a Fort Lauderdale bus. Since 2016 gun violence has increased 45% in Florida. Yep, the Republicans are doing a great job.
jt1990
chris thau not at all! If the kid is gay no one should judge. But, just like with cops, anything you say or do can be used against you in court (and on the court!)
I just thought using the word ‘ammo’ was clever since he was also shot at. Now as for the shootings, in my neighborhood it’s just kids riding on golf carts firing away at each other with pellet guns. Just stupid, non-hateful fun!
Sorry to hear about Fort Lauderdale, but I’m not surprised. The whole area has been hammered hard by diversity for the past 20 years. Unfortunately the gangstas aren’t satisfied shooting just BB’s. I chose the location of my home carefully!
jt1990
Den my reason for being on this site is to combat the spread of misinformation! Also I retired a bit early and need something to occupy my time.
Now I understood what the article said the first time reading it. My point was, if everyone these days were homophobes, the kid would not have received support from ANYONE. Including his own school, and I doubt the coach would have wanted him on the team.
Den
“I just thought using the word ‘ammo’ was clever since he was also shot at.”
So not only do you deny hatred for LGBT people was at cause here (naïve at best, on your part, most likely deluded), you somehow think it “clever” to make light of it BECAUSE HE WAS SHOT AT, ignoring what may well have been an attempt to cause an accident with a bus full of kids. What part of you is is not a hateful, backwards twit, and what the hell are you doing on this site anyway. The only hatred you will inspire is against you (We are a little too intelligent to be otherwise manipulated by the likes of you), and you will change no minds as you would need a mind that functions yourself to do that.
jt1990
Den again, I believe it was a few stupid kids doing the same thing they would have done had there been no gays on the bus. When I was in school I knew of kids (including myself) being attacked for wearing the wrong brand of clothes, or acting ‘too white.’
But I agree with you on one thing, I can’t seem to change anyone’s mind on this site!
Den
@jt1990
“I had no idea Herbert the Pervert was dead. And I’ve watched about every episode of Family Guy! Last I heard he was President….doing ok but having some memory issues”
THIS comment you left on an article about the brutal murder of a gay man tells us all we need to know about you. You’re scum. That is all you are.
Go away, you make people here sick to their stomachs.
Bonerboy
@jt1990 Why do you keep ignoring Den’s reminder of your truly vile quote. Oh, I know why. It’s the same reason you don’t “believe” statistics. It’s the same AND ONLY reason you come on here. Not to battle disinformation. It’s because a part of you knows you’re a bad person. Probably even a little bit evil. Oh, you probably are very nice when it’s convenient–even to people who are not even like you! You might even help a neighbor–or even a stranger! Maybe a stranger of color!! You KNOW you are a good person, you just KNOW IT. Yet deep down, you know you are a selfish, hateful, nasty, probably untrustworthy piece of human excrement. And the good gays on this board, with their open minds and obvious righteous kindness make you realize what you are lacking. And it’s so easy for you to hate, but hate on a forum such as this has nowhere to really go, so all you can do is let us know how “wrong” we are. You’re not going to convince anyone here. It’s ignorant of you even to try. But you know that. You can’t confront any of us face to face (and I’m sure you’d like to do more than just “confront” us) so this is all you can do. I sometimes just wish you and your ilk would just accept the fact that you are evil, don’t try to cloud it, just embrace your awfulness. It would be much more honest.
Cam
@jt1990
The fact that the right wing bigoted troll account who always defends anti-LGBT hatred is here furiously defending the bigoted behavior shows that it is pure hate and bigotry.
If it wasn’t, the troll wouldn’t be defending it so vigorously.
MarcyMayer
chris thau:
The Democrats have a vice-hold political grip on Fort Lauderdale. It’s their fault that crime is rising.
Den
“Den my reason for being on this site is to combat the spread of misinformation!”
That has to be one of the most disingenuous statements I have ever seen as pretty much everything you post is misinformation, lies, conspiracy theories, and right wing bull. If you are not being purposely disingenuous, you are dull as a box of rocks. And for at least the second time you are insisting your very clear (if deluded) statements do not mean what you obviously intended them to mean.
GrizzleyMichael
OMG homophobia is so last year and getting like the people stale
boblrice
jt1990 you are an obvious troll. So much so that you literally admitted it by saying you’re here to dispel “misinformation”. Going to a site that is contrary to your personal world view for the sold purpose of arguing an opposing view is the definition of trolling.
So maybe you enjoy this, but no one is buying your BS. You should cash in your rubles while they’re still worth something and go do something that’s actually productive.
jt1990
boblrice I understand your frustration with my commentary. For the past two years we all had to deal with the unsolicited ‘fact-checking’ trend that began with the Left.
Den
@jt1990
“{I had no idea Herbert the Pervert was dead. And I’ve watched about every episode of Family Guy! Last I heard he was President….doing ok but having some memory issues”
THIS colmment you left on an article about the brutal murder of a gay man tells us a;ll we need to know about you. You’re scum. That is all you are.
RTG
jt1990:
“For the past two years we all had to deal with the unsolicited ‘fact-checking’ trend that began with the Left.”
People who are fact based, believe in science and live in reality should welcome fact checking. The fact that you seem to mention it with distain is telling. There are no “alternative facts” Kellyanne.
Caddy4J
It’s wonderful that this kid is proud of who he is, and feels comfortable in his own shoes. The sad thing is the hate towards him and the school who’s backed him up. The constant name calling, almost causing a accident that could have ended in injuries or death because of what his preferences are sickens me. My opinion only, is that these wanna be punk thugs get the rage and homophobia from home and it starts with the parents. Same here on Queerty, (yeah I know, 1st amendment) everybody gets away from the main topic and decide to tear each other down due to their posted comments. You’re no better than the kids that tried to harm this boy and just goes to show, you have some hate and rage within yourself over a few words. We are adults, we’re supposed to set an example for our younger generation.
Cam
Periodically the right wing troll tries to pretend one of its screenames is reasonable so it can then come in and subtly back up the other screenames and pretend it isn’t backing up it’s own screename.
The problem @jt1990, is that the screename @Caddy4J although older is very much remembered as another one of your hate spewing screenames. I love how bad at this you are. You couldn’t even try this with a new screename? LOL
Your troll game is, as always, sad and weak.
MarcyMayer
So, Cam, you’re on here today as Cam, Den, and Kangol2.
Your troll game is, as always, sad and weak.
boblrice
jt1990 Again, I question just why you’re here other than to stir the pot and raise other’s ire. It adds no value.
You have every right to be here. But that doesn’t mean you should be.
The Accidental Polemicist
@boblrice
Get off your high horse, princess.
And I thought you were one of those diversity lovers. As usual, it’s all just talk.
jt1990 has every right to be here, just as you do. Unlike you, he adds a different perspective and point of view than those parroting all the correct narratives and talking points.
Lighten up, you just might learn something. I can only hope.
jt1990
@The Accidental Polemicist
“Unlike you, he adds a different perspective and point of view than those parroting all the correct narratives and talking points.”
That’s true open-mindedness right there! I appreciate you pointing that out, that has been my goal much of the time! Listening to so many people repeat some bs narrative has been frustrating to say the least. Sometimes even the party I vote for frustrates me for the same reason. I don’t even rant as much as I’d like!
Chrisk
The Accidental Polemicist aka jt1990 aka SamB
Logging into your other accounts to astroturf your warped right wing opinions doesn’t count as “diversity” Princess. 😉
Bosch
“Get off your high horse, princess.”
Oh, the irony…
MarcyMayer
The Accidental Polemicist:
Sadly, most of the commenters here only like diversity when it comes to sexual orientations, genders, and races.
They never support diversity of opinions.
They are left-wing fascists.
Imagine if Cam had Hitler’s or Stalin’s power. He’d have everyone who he didn’t agree with executed.
MarcyMayer
Chrisk: Is that you Cam?
Chrisk
The Accidental Polemicist aka jt1990 aka SamB aka MarcyMayer
Ah yes how could I forget your newest screen name. Lol
jt1990
@Den
Ok, I went over the line that time. Wrong time and place to make a joke. By all means, the 23 yo should be punished no excuses. When you get to that age and are still in the dating scene, keep a keen eye out for the gold diggers. Some might also be grave diggers!
An older man in my neighborhood was exploited by a young woman he met online. She turned out to be real, but not real nice…she was in her early thirties and cleaned out his dead wife’s jewelry and made off a good bit of cash. He was partially disabled and could not have put up much of a fight had she meant physical harm also.
Both the young and the elderly have to be aware of predators, regardless of orientation!
Den
Nobody here buys your “apology” het boy! You are hate filled, and thus hateful. You add nothing to this site but ill founded lies, stupidity and division. You offer no real information, do nothing to counter arguments in an intelligent way…constantly mistaking your imagination or the lies you so easily swallow as fact. You fail to understand the difference between opinions based on actuality, and opinions based on opinions or nothing at all and buy into the stupid notion that all opinions are worthy of consideration. Yours are never worthy of much besides ridicule.
Granted this is an open and public site, but what do you as a lying heterosexual scumbag hope to gain by coming here? What makes you think your brand of hatred and backwardness has any relevance to us? I, for one, will continue to excoriate you when I have the time. It is so easy, and the right thing to do when presented with an individual so lacking in integrity and decency.!
white-queer-african
I here I am on a fabulous long weekend break in a game reserve. I promised myself I was not going to check-in on Queerty and I didn’t want my weekend to be ruined by the right-wing nut jobs. SamB et al which includes JT1990. What a bunch of w*a*n*k*e*r*s with such warped ideas and outlook on life. Are u even human let alone gay? Off to a champagne brunch, and no my weekend is still going fabulous ?
MarcyMayer
white-queer-african: I know what would make your fabulous weekend perfect: Take 2 mg of fentanyl.
white-queer-african
F*U*C*K Queerty for their “your comment is under moderation” and JT1990 for the POS it is. JT1990 get a life, try and get laid, you might feel better afterwards!
MarcyMayer
white-queer-african: Remember: 2 mg of fentanyl will solve your problems forever.
Heywood Jablowme
Marcy:
Read the Queerty comments policy. Telling someone to commit suicide (twice!) is obviously a violation. But you’re still a w*a*n*k*e*r even though you pretend to be trans!
Cam
@MarcyMayer
Hey Queerty, this is one of the screenames of the right wing troll (SamB, BarryM, jt1990, Caddy4j, openminded, ronbo, etc…)
And it has just suggested another person on here commit suicide. Is that finally enough to ban this person?
jt1990
@MarcyMayer We can always count on Cam to show up like an overzealous mall cop and make his usual accusations. I doubt he (maybe she?) will ever be the modern Sherlock Holmes, but I give him an A for effort in pursuit at least. He sure knows how to locate anyone who’s not a Left wing fascist!
Bosch
Racist homophobes pretending there is no racism or homophobia… That’s a bit on the nose, isn’t it?
Then again, if they were smart, they wouldn’t have the opinions they have.