NOH8 Photo Of 11-year-old Texan Targeted By Anti-Gay Bullies Goes Viral

[TexasTowelie]

RAYMONDVILLE, TEXAS -- Vanessa Tijerina-Arguelles posted the above photo of her 11-year-old son, Jesus "Jesse" Franco, on Facebook on Friday morning and marked it with the hashtag #NOH8.

Since being reposted by the NOH8 Campaign a few hours later, the photo has been shared more than 83,000 times on Facebook.

As you can see, Jesse is holding two signs saying although he's not gay, he's been the victim of anti-gay bullying at his school in Raymondville, Texas, near McAllen. School officials have refused to do anything to stop the bullying, and have in fact punished him for defending himself, according to Jesse's signs.

The signs read:

"HELLO! I'M JESUS (JESSE) FRANCO. I'M NOT GAY. STILL, I GET CALLED GAY AND FAGGOT AT MY SCHOOL EVERY DAY. RAYMONDVILLE (TX) INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOTHING. MY PARENTS & I HAVE TRIED 2 GET THEM 2 DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THE LAST TIME I WAS ATTACKED, I GOT 2 DAYS OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION FOR OVERCOMING THE BULLY, DEFENDING MYSELF. PARENTS OF THESE KIDS ARE BULLIES 2. MAYBE THAT'S WHY THE SCHOOL DOESN'T ACT & THE KIDS(S) DON'T STOP? PLEASE SHARE SO OTHER KIDS, LIKE ME, CAN SEE THEY ARE NOT ALONE. THE SCHOOL MAY VIOLATE MY FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND MY RIGHT TO (SILENT) PROTEST; THEY HAVE GIVEN ME NO CHOICE, NO HELP. THANK YOU. NO H8."

Jesse's mom, Tijerina-Arguelles, wrote the following when she originally posted the photo:

"My son is 11 years old. His school district is in a community that is a pro-bully, anti-victim community in EVERY aspect. Where victims should be of a concern (law enforcement, government, school district), and be protected. The latest insult was a gay slur, a shouted gay-bashing during lunch in the cafeteria, followed by ooohs. With faculty present. My son has a learning disability, he was caught off guard and unable to react. The bully who did this is a notorious bully, his mom is a nortorius bully. Both the mother and her son have cyber-bullied and gay bashed my boy. Enough is enough."

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2014/11/noh8-photo-of-11-year-old-in-texas-who-was-targeted-by-anti-gay-bullies-goes-viral.html#.VGjKLrFCfx4.twitter

Cross-posted in the Texas Group.

[List left]

1. Others took out markers and followed suit

Tijerina-Arguelles said Jesse had asked why his bullies were using gay slurs. She explained it was because he's different and they make assumptions. That's when Jesse said there should be a campaign to protect people against anti-gay bullying.

"I said, 'Oh honey, there are many, some have been around forever. The newest one is NOH8. Have you heard of it?' ... I logged online and showed him the campaign. He said, 'I bet no one in Raymondville knows about that.' I said: 'I bet you're right. You want people to know about that?' He nodded. And voila! We made it happen. He got there [to school] and only one girl knew what it was about. Teachers asked him, 'Is that gang related?' He said, 'No, I support gays and their rights.' So proud of my boy. Others took out markers and followed suit."

Many of those who've commented and shared the photo say they plan to contact the Raymondville school superintendent. Here's his info should you choose to join them:

Johnny I. Pineda
[e-mail]
956-689-8176

[marble falls]

25. Small town Texas is a terribly rough place to live. Bullyism is bred into the culture...

its a form of entertainment and its part of what drives most of the young to "the big city".

[alfredo]

2. Kick and Recommend

[druidity33]

3. K&R, nt.

[bluestateguy]

4. let kids defend themselves physically from bullies

Sometimes a good ass kicking is what bully needs, not a week of detention or a three day vacation from school.

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Up two thumbies.

n/t

[mackerel]

16. Some bullies are abused at home. Bullies ought to be removed from the families and isolated

until the family dynamics can't be studied.

[redruddyred]

20. no I think we should punish the targets for making such a big effing deal out of nothing.

and creating a ton of work for school administrators too.

[hunter]

28. Like how?

One of the reasons I was bullied was that I was a squeaky, skinny, clumsy, reactive kid.

They called me queerbait, shoved me around, beat me up, whether I "defended myself" or not.

The only thing I learned was to run away or suffer the beatings.

What was I supposed to do? Bring a gun to school?

The "man up" sorts of advice I got from adults was bullshit.

I quit high school for college. That put an end to the physical violence.

My sister did to, for very similar reasons.

[bluestateguy]

30. My point is that it should be an option not grounds for punishment

If you are skinny and waify, than yes self-defense is not going to be an option.

What I believe is that if a bullied kid DOES defend himself from bullying, that kid should not have to worry about being suspended or disciplined.

[hamsterjill]

32. Exactly. A victim should not be condemned for trying to fight back.

I grew up in one of these Texas towns, and while I didn't suffer from being bullied, my very much small-for-his-age brother was the brunt of a bully's rage for a time. One day, my brother had simply had enough and jumped the bully who was at least twice his size. Back in those days (the 60's), you simply didn't run to the teacher and ask for protection from a bully.

My brother got in several good punches before the bully recovered from the surprise, and thankfully, after a minute, a teacher intervened and stopped the altercation.

But the bravery exhibited by my brother, whether he won the fight or lost the fight, gave him confidence. It also showed other students that he had the courage to stand up to the bully, and many of them gained renewed respect for my brother. It wasn't so easy after that for the bully to get others to join in on the taunts, etc.

Thankfully, my brother did not get in trouble that day.

Things changed over time and the bullying eventually stopped.

It shouldn't have to come to physical violence, of course. But sometimes, it does. This is not to say that every situation would end like this one, either. But this one did.

[passiveporcupine]

6. I think it's time

that these bullies are named and publically shamed for their actions. Screw the schools and officials who won't do anything. Take this public on social media...with names and pictures.

[BuddhaGirl]

7. Supposedly this is the bullie's mother's FB page

the link was posted in the comments of the article.

https://www.facebook.com/becky.rubalcaba?ref=ts&fref=ts

Ugh...she updated her cover photo recently.

[C Moon]

11. what a vile person!

[hedda_foil]

12. The bully's mom is a labor and delivery nurse?

Are you sure this is the same person?

[BuddhaGirl]

14. I don't think she works there, she posted a review about the hospital

The link I posted was in the comments at the end of the article.

[daleanime]

26. Looks like it's gone now.....

must have gotten some attention.

[d_r]

27. horrible nt

[Dont call me Shirley]

8. Good for Jesse and his mom.

Many schools have anti-bullying policies that they NEVER enforce; it's all just for show.

[BeanMusical]

9. Kick and R.

[Diclotican]

10. TexasTowelie

TexasTowelie

A brave boy, who is doing what grown ups dosen't want to do..

Diclotican

[TexasTowelie]

13. Hello Diclotican,

Yes, this young man is displaying a great deal of courage after the anger that was displayed towards him. Hopefully there are enough open minds in the Raymondville school district that they can learn from him.

[LarryNM]

15. School Punishes the Victim of Abuse

Typical Brain Dead and Amoral Zero Tolerance Policies. Zero Thinking, Zero Humanity, Zero Character. Never mind
what's Real or True. Besides, if they expelled the Goons Permanently , they would lose funding for the space they occupy.

[blkmusclmachine]

17. Persecution by religion.

[Enthusiast]

18. +1

[redruddyred]

19. this was typical of my experience of texas.

don't live there anymore.

[Cha]

21. Damn the Bullies! Thank you, TexasT!

Good for Jesse Franco and his Mom, Tijerina-Arguelles

[joshdawg]

22. K&R

[RKP5637]

23. K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[ck4829]

24. When gays are no longer an acceptable target, I think everyone will be happier...

Except for the most authoritarian people who have lost one of their targets that they can use in any situation.

[TRoN33]

29. Bookmarked this!

[LW1977]

31. K&R