Gay teen so bullied he took his own life: mother

ABC
Nov 25, 2016, updated Nov 25, 2016

An online fundraising drive has been set up to pay for the funeral of Brisbane teen Taylor Unsworth. Photo: Supplied

A Brisbane mother says her gay 13-year-old son was so badly bullied that he took his own life this week.

Tyrone Unsworth was a year 7 student at Aspley State High School, where his mother Amanda claimed he was bullied because of his sexuality.

“He was a really feminine male, he loved fashion, he loved make-up and the boys always picked on him, calling him gay-boy, faggot, fairy; it was a constant thing from Year 5,” Ms Unsworth told News Corp.

On social media, Ms Unsworth wrote of her family’s despair and said it was because of the bullies that she would never get to see her “beautiful boy” alive again.

“I know you’re pain-free now son and they can’t pick on you anymore, but this shouldn’t have had to happen,” she wrote.

An online fundraising drive has been set up to pay for the teen’s funeral, with more than $10,000 donated by Friday afternoon.

https://twitter.com/akwest1/status/801962659180486656

Aspley State High School principal Jacquinta Miller says the school was unaware of any bullying against the student.

“Let me be very clear: no allegation of bullying against this young person was made to our school,” she said in a statement.

This is why we need Safe Schools. RIP Tyrone Unsworth https://t.co/7Q8JImM7K2

— Jason Ball (@jasonballau) November 25, 2016

“Neither the student nor his family ever came to us to say there was a problem of any kind.

“If they did, we absolutely would have stepped in.”

Tyrone previously attacked

Ms Unsworth said her son was attacked with a fence paling less than a month ago by a fellow student.

The incident occurred outside the school grounds and the attack was so violent he required surgery and was too afraid to go back to school.

Ms Miller said the school had been aware of an incident outside school hours that had been reported to police.

She sent the school’s “deepest sympathies” to Tyrone’s friends and family and said it had support networks in place to assist students facing any issues.

“The safety and wellbeing of everyone in our school is our highest priority and we do not tolerate bullying in any way, shape or form,” she said.