The father of a bullied British teen who committed suicide in 2010 has himself ended his own life, an inquest has found.
55-year-old Roger Crouch had become a strong advocate against anti-gay bullying after his 15-year-old son, Dominic, jumped from a building near his school in Gloucestershire in May 2010. The younger Crouch had become the victim of taunts and rumors after kissing a boy during a game on a school trip.
The elder Crouch subsequently became a vocal campaigner against homophobic bullying, and last November 3 was given the Hero of the Year award by the UK’s Stonewall organization.
Less than a month later, Crouch was found hanging from a noose by his wife Paola. She later agreed with psychiatrists that her husband ultimately had been overcome by grief at the loss of their son.
“I think it’s what you might call in an old fashioned way, a broken heart,” she told the Gloucester Coroners Court.
Image via Crouch family
Joe90
Here’s an article from this past Sunday’s Observer, dealing with the story in more detail:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/19/dominic-crouch-homophobic-bullying-suicide
Absolutely heartbreaking.
MKe
As heartbreaking as it is, it’s almost nice to know that he cared about his son that much. to be honest I sometimes get the feeling that these bullied gay teens don’t have families that care that much, and they know it.
Ron
Itgadal veitquadach chemeh rabba bealma
dibera khirouteh veyamlikh malkhouteh
veyasmah pourquaneh ve-quareb mechiheh
behayekhone oubio-mekhone oubhaye
baaghala oubizmane quarib veimrou amen.
jason
Very sad all round. Puts paid to the notion that Britain is this fabulous open-minded place. It’s just as homophobic as the rest of Europe.
ScaryRussianHeather
@jason:
Exactly. Homophobia is world wide. If not, there would be no need for Pride Parades and there would be no published studies on the situation in alleged “equality” touted countries like Sweden and Finland. There may be more equality LAWS outside of the US but laws are only the beginning of changing hearts and minds.
GAYJOCK 76
@Ron: wow, I could not have put it better.
Ron
@GAYJOCK 76: I would have gone with Per Istam Sanctam, but I’m Jewish.