I wanted to start by saying that a guiding principle from my life is that I
guiding principle from my life is that I
guiding principle from my life is that I truly want to make the world more
truly want to make the world more
truly want to make the world more comfortable for everyone and I know what
comfortable for everyone and I know what
comfortable for everyone and I know what it’s like to be uncomfortable when I was
it’s like to be uncomfortable when I was
it’s like to be uncomfortable when I was 11 years old and realized that there was
11 years old and realized that there was
11 years old and realized that there was something not quite right with me in the
something not quite right with me in the
something not quite right with me in the eyes of other people that I was
eyes of other people that I was
eyes of other people that I was attracted to other boys and particularly
attracted to other boys and particularly
attracted to other boys and particularly attracted to a man to dr. Kildare
attracted to a man to dr. Kildare
attracted to a man to dr. Kildare Richard Chamberlain for those of you who
Richard Chamberlain for those of you who
Richard Chamberlain for those of you who are more towards my age it was really
are more towards my age it was really
are more towards my age it was really scary and I lived the next years of my
scary and I lived the next years of my
scary and I lived the next years of my life until I was into my 20s really
life until I was into my 20s really
life until I was into my 20s really being frightened scared in a panic I
being frightened scared in a panic I
being frightened scared in a panic I didn’t get good grades in school I
didn’t get good grades in school I
didn’t get good grades in school I barely got through college it took its
barely got through college it took its
barely got through college it took its toll on me it was really scarring and
toll on me it was really scarring and
toll on me it was really scarring and and it wasn’t necessarily the kids in
and it wasn’t necessarily the kids in
and it wasn’t necessarily the kids in the schoolyard that bullied me it was
the schoolyard that bullied me it was
the schoolyard that bullied me it was just knowing that I was a sinner and
just knowing that I was a sinner and
just knowing that I was a sinner and broken in the eyes of God at least
broken in the eyes of God at least
broken in the eyes of God at least that’s what I thought so I know what
that’s what I thought so I know what
that’s what I thought so I know what it’s like to be uncomfortable and I’ve
it’s like to be uncomfortable and I’ve
it’s like to be uncomfortable and I’ve made a big part of my life making
made a big part of my life making
made a big part of my life making people’s lives comfortable whether it’s
people’s lives comfortable whether it’s
people’s lives comfortable whether it’s buying our furniture and I take it very
buying our furniture and I take it very
buying our furniture and I take it very seriously Bob and I take it really
seriously Bob and I take it really
seriously Bob and I take it really seriously to make comfortable furniture
seriously to make comfortable furniture
seriously to make comfortable furniture and the other big part of my life is to
and the other big part of my life is to
and the other big part of my life is to end the kind of bullying that has such
end the kind of bullying that has such
end the kind of bullying that has such an enormous effect on innocent vol knurl
an enormous effect on innocent vol knurl
an enormous effect on innocent vol knurl kids and as I’ve been on that journey
kids and as I’ve been on that journey
kids and as I’ve been on that journey I’ve realized it’s the bullying is far
I’ve realized it’s the bullying is far
I’ve realized it’s the bullying is far greater than what just happens to LGBT
greater than what just happens to LGBT
greater than what just happens to LGBT kids although so serious you know the
kids although so serious you know the
kids although so serious you know the definition of bully has changed over the
definition of bully has changed over the
definition of bully has changed over the years they used to have a positive
years they used to have a positive
years they used to have a positive connotation they have a nice new
connotation they have a nice new
connotation they have a nice new cafeteria at the college well bully for
cafeteria at the college well bully for
cafeteria at the college well bully for the kids here they’ve got a nice good
the kids here they’ve got a nice good
the kids here they’ve got a nice good cafeteria it used to be a positive word
cafeteria it used to be a positive word
cafeteria it used to be a positive word and it’s evolved and changed over time
and it’s evolved and changed over time
and it’s evolved and changed over time today when you ask people about a bully
today when you ask people about a bully
today when you ask people about a bully they often think right away about the
they often think right away about the
they often think right away about the schoolyard bully or the or the
schoolyard bully or the or the
schoolyard bully or the or the neighborhood bully but what I want to do
neighborhood bully but what I want to do
neighborhood bully but what I want to do today is explore the evolution of this
today is explore the evolution of this
today is explore the evolution of this term and maybe today we can redefine it
term and maybe today we can redefine it
term and maybe today we can redefine it a little bit and finesse it and make it
a little bit and finesse it and make it
a little bit and finesse it and make it so that bullying in all the parts of our
so that bullying in all the parts of our
so that bullying in all the parts of our society end but I want to ask this
society end but I want to ask this
society end but I want to ask this question first how many in this audience
question first how many in this audience
question first how many in this audience have been bullied at some point of your
have been bullied at some point of your
have been bullied at some point of your life that’s an easy question how many of
life that’s an easy question how many of
life that’s an easy question how many of you have bullied somebody else several
you have bullied somebody else several
you have bullied somebody else several years ago I had an extraordinary
years ago I had an extraordinary
years ago I had an extraordinary coincidence I grew up about 600 miles
coincidence I grew up about 600 miles
coincidence I grew up about 600 miles from here in Trenton New Jersey ughing
from here in Trenton New Jersey ughing
from here in Trenton New Jersey ughing New Jersey and a gal who I went to
New Jersey and a gal who I went to
New Jersey and a gal who I went to elementary junior high and high school
elementary junior high and high school
elementary junior high and high school with she moved down here about the same
with she moved down here about the same
with she moved down here about the same time that I did and she contacted me
time that I did and she contacted me
time that I did and she contacted me because actually I was speaking at the
because actually I was speaking at the
because actually I was speaking at the school when I came out with my book
school when I came out with my book
school when I came out with my book youth in crisis and we had this when I
youth in crisis and we had this when I
youth in crisis and we had this when I knew her in school I mean she was like
knew her in school I mean she was like
knew her in school I mean she was like the straight-a student she was the goody
the straight-a student she was the goody
the straight-a student she was the goody two-shoes she kind of dressed pretty but
two-shoes she kind of dressed pretty but
two-shoes she kind of dressed pretty but plain she wasn’t one of the hip kids if
plain she wasn’t one of the hip kids if
plain she wasn’t one of the hip kids if you will so I was part of that more hip
you will so I was part of that more hip
you will so I was part of that more hip Bunch and troublesome Bunch and always
Bunch and troublesome Bunch and always
Bunch and troublesome Bunch and always an mischief of some kind so when she
an mischief of some kind so when she
an mischief of some kind so when she contacted me to get together with her I
contacted me to get together with her I
contacted me to get together with her I was a little reluctant because I didn’t
was a little reluctant because I didn’t
was a little reluctant because I didn’t know that much about her really and then
know that much about her really and then
know that much about her really and then when I did a little bit of research I
when I did a little bit of research I
when I did a little bit of research I found out that she was married to a
found out that she was married to a
found out that she was married to a Southern Baptist minister so that was
Southern Baptist minister so that was
Southern Baptist minister so that was like a red flag and I thought what am I
like a red flag and I thought what am I
like a red flag and I thought what am I really going to have in common and what
really going to have in common and what
really going to have in common and what does she really want to talk to me about
does she really want to talk to me about
does she really want to talk to me about but being a little bit of an adventurer
but being a little bit of an adventurer
but being a little bit of an adventurer I went and met with her and we sat at
I went and met with her and we sat at
I went and met with her and we sat at the Starbucks and she told me that she
the Starbucks and she told me that she
the Starbucks and she told me that she admired the work that I was doing that
admired the work that I was doing that
admired the work that I was doing that she loved the advocacy work that I was
she loved the advocacy work that I was
she loved the advocacy work that I was doing he started telling me about
doing he started telling me about
doing he started telling me about friends of hers and tell me about how
friends of hers and tell me about how
friends of hers and tell me about how she divorced her husband and how she’s
she divorced her husband and how she’s
she divorced her husband and how she’s has a very different attitude than what
has a very different attitude than what
has a very different attitude than what her church brought her up to believe and
her church brought her up to believe and
her church brought her up to believe and it was great and then she looked at me
it was great and then she looked at me
it was great and then she looked at me and said I even get the clamp thinking
and said I even get the clamp thinking
and said I even get the clamp thinking about this she said you know when we
about this she said you know when we
about this she said you know when we were in school
were in school
were in school bullied me and gosh I chill just went
bullied me and gosh I chill just went
bullied me and gosh I chill just went through me I mean I think of myself as a
through me I mean I think of myself as a
through me I mean I think of myself as a good person I want to be a good person I
good person I want to be a good person I
good person I want to be a good person I don’t want to hurt people and she then
don’t want to hurt people and she then
don’t want to hurt people and she then started to tell me about how we were
started to tell me about how we were
started to tell me about how we were young how I would tease her and bully
young how I would tease her and bully
young how I would tease her and bully her and it really was a time that just
her and it really was a time that just
her and it really was a time that just it went through me and I said I have to
it went through me and I said I have to
it went through me and I said I have to be much more conscious of what I do how
be much more conscious of what I do how
be much more conscious of what I do how I act towards people whether it’s
I act towards people whether it’s
I act towards people whether it’s employees and my company or people that
employees and my company or people that
employees and my company or people that I meet on the outside whatever it is but
I meet on the outside whatever it is but
I meet on the outside whatever it is but it made me think that so many of us have
it made me think that so many of us have
it made me think that so many of us have bullied other people and don’t know
bullied other people and don’t know
bullied other people and don’t know about it there’s the over bullying of
about it there’s the over bullying of
about it there’s the over bullying of the schoolyard bully and there’s the
the schoolyard bully and there’s the
the schoolyard bully and there’s the covert bullying that many of us might do
covert bullying that many of us might do
covert bullying that many of us might do Webster defines bullying a bully as a
Webster defines bullying a bully as a
Webster defines bullying a bully as a blustering browbeating person especially
blustering browbeating person especially
blustering browbeating person especially one who is officially cruel insulting or
one who is officially cruel insulting or
one who is officially cruel insulting or threatening to others who are weaker
threatening to others who are weaker
threatening to others who are weaker smaller or in some way vulnerable let’s
smaller or in some way vulnerable let’s
smaller or in some way vulnerable let’s talk about poor people in our society
talk about poor people in our society
talk about poor people in our society would you believe in America the
would you believe in America the
would you believe in America the greatest country in the world as so many
greatest country in the world as so many
greatest country in the world as so many say has 40 million people living in
say has 40 million people living in
say has 40 million people living in poverty and 15 million of those kids 15
poverty and 15 million of those kids 15
poverty and 15 million of those kids 15 million of that is kids think about what
million of that is kids think about what
million of that is kids think about what poverty is like you’re hungry you don’t
poverty is like you’re hungry you don’t
poverty is like you’re hungry you don’t have enough food yes there are people
have enough food yes there are people
have enough food yes there are people without enough food and yet there are
without enough food and yet there are
without enough food and yet there are legislators who want to cut food stamp
legislators who want to cut food stamp
legislators who want to cut food stamp programs because a few people might take
programs because a few people might take
programs because a few people might take advantage of it or they might want to
advantage of it or they might want to
advantage of it or they might want to cut the school lunch program because a
cut the school lunch program because a
cut the school lunch program because a few kids might take advantage of it and
few kids might take advantage of it and
few kids might take advantage of it and by the way these people that want to cut
by the way these people that want to cut
by the way these people that want to cut these things because they’re so pious
these things because they’re so pious
these things because they’re so pious that people are taking advantage of
that people are taking advantage of
that people are taking advantage of something
something
something it’s like Congress and Senate doesn’t
it’s like Congress and Senate doesn’t
it’s like Congress and Senate doesn’t take advantage of anything and an abuse
take advantage of anything and an abuse
take advantage of anything and an abuse of privilege they might have gosh but I
of privilege they might have gosh but I
of privilege they might have gosh but I think about people who are hungry I mean
think about people who are hungry I mean
think about people who are hungry I mean my god if I don’t eat a meal when I have
my god if I don’t eat a meal when I have
my god if I don’t eat a meal when I have to eat a meal and I will tell you about
to eat a meal and I will tell you about
to eat a meal and I will tell you about Bob Williams if he doesn’t eat a meal
Bob Williams if he doesn’t eat a meal
Bob Williams if he doesn’t eat a meal when he leaves but everybody in the
when he leaves but everybody in the
when he leaves but everybody in the company knows always feed Bob because it
company knows always feed Bob because it
company knows always feed Bob because it makes you cranky it’s really hard to
makes you cranky it’s really hard to
makes you cranky it’s really hard to concentrate when you’re hungry when I
concentrate when you’re hungry when I
concentrate when you’re hungry when I was a kid and I was bad I remember my
was a kid and I was bad I remember my
was a kid and I was bad I remember my parents they would punish me by sending
parents they would punish me by sending
parents they would punish me by sending me to my room without dinner
me to my room without dinner
me to my room without dinner and it was like torture I heard a
and it was like torture I heard a
and it was like torture I heard a professor from UNC Chapel Hill speak a
professor from UNC Chapel Hill speak a
professor from UNC Chapel Hill speak a few weeks ago I’m privileged to be on
few weeks ago I’m privileged to be on
few weeks ago I’m privileged to be on governor Cooper’s Business Council and
governor Cooper’s Business Council and
governor Cooper’s Business Council and this professor spoke about how the
this professor spoke about how the
this professor spoke about how the poverty in in our state and in our
poverty in in our state and in our
poverty in in our state and in our country and he told the story about how
country and he told the story about how
country and he told the story about how he went to a school and he asked all the
he went to a school and he asked all the
he went to a school and he asked all the kids what they had for dinner the night
kids what they had for dinner the night
kids what they had for dinner the night before because he wanted to know who
before because he wanted to know who
before because he wanted to know who Aidan who didn’t and this one little
Aidan who didn’t and this one little
Aidan who didn’t and this one little girl said it wasn’t my turn to eat can
girl said it wasn’t my turn to eat can
girl said it wasn’t my turn to eat can you imagine that in this country in this
you imagine that in this country in this
you imagine that in this country in this country where people say it is the
country where people say it is the
country where people say it is the greatest country in the world and we
greatest country in the world and we
greatest country in the world and we have kids that goat that don’t have a
have kids that goat that don’t have a
have kids that goat that don’t have a meal at night because it’s not their
meal at night because it’s not their
meal at night because it’s not their turn
turn
turn shame on these people how do you lift
shame on these people how do you lift
shame on these people how do you lift yourself out of poverty education you
yourself out of poverty education you
yourself out of poverty education you have to you have to get some education
have to you have to get some education
have to you have to get some education to get a better job I think the
to get a better job I think the
to get a better job I think the statistic is if a person does not have a
statistic is if a person does not have a
statistic is if a person does not have a third or fourth grade education they are
third or fourth grade education they are
third or fourth grade education they are 70% more likely to end up incarcerated
70% more likely to end up incarcerated
70% more likely to end up incarcerated that’s stupid talk about uneducated
that’s stupid talk about uneducated
that’s stupid talk about uneducated that’s uneducated on the part of people
that’s uneducated on the part of people
that’s uneducated on the part of people that would allow anybody not to have a
that would allow anybody not to have a
that would allow anybody not to have a third or fourth grade education we can
third or fourth grade education we can
third or fourth grade education we can keep so many people out of jail just by
keep so many people out of jail just by
keep so many people out of jail just by that nature but by the way for-profit
that nature but by the way for-profit
that nature but by the way for-profit prisons what are the dumbest ideas ever
prisons what are the dumbest ideas ever
prisons what are the dumbest ideas ever so
so you know when I hear legislators talk
so you know when I hear legislators talk about tax reform in my mind the word
about tax reform in my mind the word
about tax reform in my mind the word reform means to improve something but to
reform means to improve something but to
reform means to improve something but to have tax reform where you’re cutting
have tax reform where you’re cutting
have tax reform where you’re cutting education and cutting food programs for
education and cutting food programs for
education and cutting food programs for poor people
poor people
poor people that’s not tax reform where you’re
that’s not tax reform where you’re
that’s not tax reform where you’re giving tax credits to wealthy people and
giving tax credits to wealthy people and
giving tax credits to wealthy people and the belief that they are going to spend
the belief that they are going to spend
the belief that they are going to spend more money and that’ll generate more
more money and that’ll generate more
more money and that’ll generate more jobs and income in the in society well
jobs and income in the in society well
jobs and income in the in society well that’s been proven wrong that’s not even
that’s been proven wrong that’s not even
that’s been proven wrong that’s not even that’s not even a question anymore it’s
that’s not even a question anymore it’s
that’s not even a question anymore it’s been proven so wrong so why would we
been proven so wrong so why would we
been proven so wrong so why would we continue doing that and my contention is
continue doing that and my contention is
continue doing that and my contention is that the legislators who do this to poor
that the legislators who do this to poor
that the legislators who do this to poor people that perpetuate poverty they are
people that perpetuate poverty they are
people that perpetuate poverty they are bullies
bullies
bullies and we should call them out for what
and we should call them out for what
and we should call them out for what they are they are using their powerful
they are they are using their powerful
they are they are using their powerful position to denigrate and keep down
position to denigrate and keep down
position to denigrate and keep down other people and we should call them out
other people and we should call them out
other people and we should call them out for it I pay taxes because I want to be
for it I pay taxes because I want to be
for it I pay taxes because I want to be part of society and I want a better
part of society and I want a better
part of society and I want a better society I want more people to be
society I want more people to be
society I want more people to be educated I want more people to be fed
educated I want more people to be fed
educated I want more people to be fed and be productive I want more people to
and be productive I want more people to
and be productive I want more people to buy more furniture and you only get it
buy more furniture and you only get it
buy more furniture and you only get it with people that get into the middle
with people that get into the middle
with people that get into the middle class and get to the upper class we
class and get to the upper class we
class and get to the upper class we shouldn’t have a poverty class in this
shouldn’t have a poverty class in this
shouldn’t have a poverty class in this the greatest country in the world I
the greatest country in the world I
the greatest country in the world I would also contend that the people that
would also contend that the people that
would also contend that the people that initiate and perpetuate this kind of
initiate and perpetuate this kind of
initiate and perpetuate this kind of legislation I would contend that they
legislation I would contend that they
legislation I would contend that they perpetuate systemic racism and for
perpetuate systemic racism and for
perpetuate systemic racism and for anybody who believes that there is not
anybody who believes that there is not
anybody who believes that there is not systemic racism in this country I would
systemic racism in this country I would
systemic racism in this country I would ask you to think again do some research
ask you to think again do some research
ask you to think again do some research this is not just an idle claim by
this is not just an idle claim by
this is not just an idle claim by somebody who kneels down at a football
somebody who kneels down at a football
somebody who kneels down at a football game this is a really serious part of
game this is a really serious part of
game this is a really serious part of our society I admire people who kneel
our society I admire people who kneel
our society I admire people who kneel and pray for a better country where we
and pray for a better country where we
and pray for a better country where we take better care of our people and
take better care of our people and
take better care of our people and eliminate the kind of systemic racism
eliminate the kind of systemic racism
eliminate the kind of systemic racism that we have I had dinner just this past
that we have I had dinner just this past
that we have I had dinner just this past week with a friend in New York 30 about
week with a friend in New York 30 about
week with a friend in New York 30 about a 35 year old guy
a 35 year old guy
a 35 year old guy african-american and in the course of
african-american and in the course of
african-american and in the course of dinner I said unprepared for this I said
dinner I said unprepared for this I said
dinner I said unprepared for this I said them Marc do you think there’s systemic
them Marc do you think there’s systemic
them Marc do you think there’s systemic racism in this country do you face it he
racism in this country do you face it he
racism in this country do you face it he almost spit out his food laughing he
almost spit out his food laughing he
almost spit out his food laughing he look at he said are you kidding me
look at he said are you kidding me
look at he said are you kidding me and I said no this is a serious question
and I said no this is a serious question
and I said no this is a serious question he said you have to be kidding yes there
he said you have to be kidding yes there
he said you have to be kidding yes there absolutely is and it really made me
absolutely is and it really made me
absolutely is and it really made me understand even that much deeper than I
understand even that much deeper than I
understand even that much deeper than I already understood that I don’t know the
already understood that I don’t know the
already understood that I don’t know the systemic racism that exists in this
systemic racism that exists in this
systemic racism that exists in this country because I don’t walk in his
country because I don’t walk in his
country because I don’t walk in his shoes
shoes
shoes I’m not profiled like he told me about
I’m not profiled like he told me about
I’m not profiled like he told me about when he whether it’s being stopped by it
when he whether it’s being stopped by it
when he whether it’s being stopped by it in a small town as he’s driving across
in a small town as he’s driving across
in a small town as he’s driving across country with his husband or if he’s at
country with his husband or if he’s at
country with his husband or if he’s at the airport in my opinion these people
the airport in my opinion these people
the airport in my opinion these people in boys and they’re cruel make no
in boys and they’re cruel make no
in boys and they’re cruel make no mistake about it keeping a kid hungry is
mistake about it keeping a kid hungry is
mistake about it keeping a kid hungry is cruel kids wordsmith a University of
cruel kids wordsmith a University of
cruel kids wordsmith a University of Cambridge publication defines bully is
Cambridge publication defines bully is
Cambridge publication defines bully is someone who harasses and frightens
someone who harasses and frightens
someone who harasses and frightens others and you know I left this in about
others and you know I left this in about
others and you know I left this in about what how they use it in a sentence
what how they use it in a sentence
what how they use it in a sentence because virtually every dictionary
because virtually every dictionary
because virtually every dictionary talked about bullies in school bullies
talked about bullies in school bullies
talked about bullies in school bullies in the in the neighborhood a great deal
in the in the neighborhood a great deal
in the in the neighborhood a great deal of the talk of bullying does surround
of the talk of bullying does surround
of the talk of bullying does surround LGBT kids you hear about it all the time
LGBT kids you hear about it all the time
LGBT kids you hear about it all the time and all this – and a lot of the
and all this – and a lot of the
and all this – and a lot of the statistics come in and it’s about LGBT
statistics come in and it’s about LGBT
statistics come in and it’s about LGBT kids and how they’re treated there’s not
kids and how they’re treated there’s not
kids and how they’re treated there’s not that much of the other research so let’s
that much of the other research so let’s
that much of the other research so let’s talk about some alarming numbers 28% of
talk about some alarming numbers 28% of
talk about some alarming numbers 28% of US students in grades 6 through 12 have
US students in grades 6 through 12 have
US students in grades 6 through 12 have experienced bullying 15% of high school
experienced bullying 15% of high school
experienced bullying 15% of high school students were electronically bullied in
students were electronically bullied in
students were electronically bullied in the past year you know if those numbers
the past year you know if those numbers
the past year you know if those numbers were 2% would you agree with me that
were 2% would you agree with me that
were 2% would you agree with me that that would be terrible but one quarter
that would be terrible but one quarter
that would be terrible but one quarter of kids have experienced bullying and
of kids have experienced bullying and
of kids have experienced bullying and 15% were cyber bullied I think 0% is the
15% were cyber bullied I think 0% is the
15% were cyber bullied I think 0% is the number 55% of LGBT kids have experienced
number 55% of LGBT kids have experienced
number 55% of LGBT kids have experienced cyber bullying not 15% 55%
cyber bullying not 15% 55%
cyber bullying not 15% 55% you know I wonder who breeds the bullies
you know I wonder who breeds the bullies
you know I wonder who breeds the bullies how does a kid grow up and become a
how does a kid grow up and become a
how does a kid grow up and become a bully what kind of home did they grow up
bully what kind of home did they grow up
bully what kind of home did they grow up with what kind of education do they have
with what kind of education do they have
with what kind of education do they have what church did they go to that would
what church did they go to that would
what church did they go to that would enable them to become a bully
enable them to become a bully
enable them to become a bully 30% of young people admit to bullying
30% of young people admit to bullying
30% of young people admit to bullying others and 41% witness bullying once a
others and 41% witness bullying once a
others and 41% witness bullying once a week or more 70% of young people and
week or more 70% of young people and
week or more 70% of young people and school staff admit they have seen and
school staff admit they have seen and
school staff admit they have seen and witnessed bullying in their schools you
witnessed bullying in their schools you
witnessed bullying in their schools you know we see all of this and it’s always
know we see all of this and it’s always
know we see all of this and it’s always about schools those terrible teachers
about schools those terrible teachers
about schools those terrible teachers you know those teachers that don’t care
you know those teachers that don’t care
you know those teachers that don’t care and all of that it’s it’s more of this
and all of that it’s it’s more of this
and all of that it’s it’s more of this systemic keeping down of Education in
systemic keeping down of Education in
systemic keeping down of Education in this country if I hear one more
this country if I hear one more
this country if I hear one more politician talk about teachers in a
politician talk about teachers in a
politician talk about teachers in a negative way forget the fact that my
negative way forget the fact that my
negative way forget the fact that my mother was a teacher and I know how hard
mother was a teacher and I know how hard
mother was a teacher and I know how hard she worked as a teacher but I think it’s
she worked as a teacher but I think it’s
she worked as a teacher but I think it’s so ridiculous and it’s bullying but you
so ridiculous and it’s bullying but you
so ridiculous and it’s bullying but you know all this statistics about bullying
know all this statistics about bullying
know all this statistics about bullying at school really makes me think and
at school really makes me think and
at school really makes me think and reminds me that bullying is a disease
reminds me that bullying is a disease
reminds me that bullying is a disease and I want to talk for a minute about
and I want to talk for a minute about
and I want to talk for a minute about the covert bullying what makes an
the covert bullying what makes an
the covert bullying what makes an eleven-year-old kid come home after
eleven-year-old kid come home after
eleven-year-old kid come home after being bullied at school for being gay
being bullied at school for being gay
being bullied at school for being gay and walk in the closet and hang himself
and walk in the closet and hang himself
and walk in the closet and hang himself what makes the thirteen-year-old kid
what makes the thirteen-year-old kid
what makes the thirteen-year-old kid that I met with several years ago who’s
that I met with several years ago who’s
that I met with several years ago who’s now I believe a senior in high school
now I believe a senior in high school
now I believe a senior in high school who had tried to take his life twice not
who had tried to take his life twice not
who had tried to take his life twice not once twice 13 years old innocent
once twice 13 years old innocent
once twice 13 years old innocent precious kid as I sat across from him at
precious kid as I sat across from him at
precious kid as I sat across from him at Starbucks again I said why would you try
Starbucks again I said why would you try
Starbucks again I said why would you try to take your life and he looked at me
to take your life and he looked at me
to take your life and he looked at me and said because I’m a sinner because
and said because I’m a sinner because
and said because I’m a sinner because I’m broken and I like my so please don’t
I’m broken and I like my so please don’t
I’m broken and I like my so please don’t ever say that again don’t ever think
ever say that again don’t ever think
ever say that again don’t ever think that again where did you hear that in my
that again where did you hear that in my
that again where did you hear that in my daddy’s church
daddy’s church
daddy’s church I said for every Minister that tells you
I said for every Minister that tells you
I said for every Minister that tells you that I will find you 10 that will tell
that I will find you 10 that will tell
that I will find you 10 that will tell you it’s not and that’s one of the big
you it’s not and that’s one of the big
you it’s not and that’s one of the big things that I really want to get across
things that I really want to get across
things that I really want to get across today for New Year’s last year I made a
today for New Year’s last year I made a
today for New Year’s last year I made a resolution and it was that every
resolution and it was that every
resolution and it was that every opportunity I get to talk about and
opportunity I get to talk about and
opportunity I get to talk about and educate people about the incredible harm
educate people about the incredible harm
educate people about the incredible harm that comes from this toxic teaching that
that comes from this toxic teaching that
that comes from this toxic teaching that homosexuality is a sin I’m gonna take
homosexuality is a sin I’m gonna take
homosexuality is a sin I’m gonna take advantage of that opportunity I’m here
advantage of that opportunity I’m here
advantage of that opportunity I’m here today I’ve done it with the school board
today I’ve done it with the school board
today I’ve done it with the school board in Alexander County the County
in Alexander County the County
in Alexander County the County Commissioners in Alexander County asked
Commissioners in Alexander County asked
Commissioners in Alexander County asked me to come and talk about business and
me to come and talk about business and
me to come and talk about business and what growth plans we had and they also
what growth plans we had and they also
what growth plans we had and they also heard my my discussion about that’s not
heard my my discussion about that’s not
heard my my discussion about that’s not a sin and and my birthday wish is that
a sin and and my birthday wish is that
a sin and and my birthday wish is that it won’t be a sin anymore I really
it won’t be a sin anymore I really
it won’t be a sin anymore I really believe that if we don’t talk about
believe that if we don’t talk about
believe that if we don’t talk about these things nobody will ever know it
bullying is a disease that has permeated
bullying is a disease that has permeated so much of our society whether it’s poor
so much of our society whether it’s poor
so much of our society whether it’s poor people gay kids whatever it is it it’s
people gay kids whatever it is it it’s
people gay kids whatever it is it it’s such an impact on mental health on
such an impact on mental health on
such an impact on mental health on physical health on crime it leads to
physical health on crime it leads to
physical health on crime it leads to death so the thing I want to ask you all
death so the thing I want to ask you all
death so the thing I want to ask you all to do is to consider and I always ask
to do is to consider and I always ask
to do is to consider and I always ask people to sit so today I want to ask you
people to sit so today I want to ask you
people to sit so today I want to ask you to take a stand and to take a pledge the
to take a stand and to take a pledge the
to take a stand and to take a pledge the Tyler Clemente foundation was started by
Tyler Clemente foundation was started by
Tyler Clemente foundation was started by his parents after he drove after he was
his parents after he drove after he was
his parents after he drove after he was cyber bullied in a second week at
cyber bullied in a second week at
cyber bullied in a second week at Rutgers University drove to the George
Rutgers University drove to the George
Rutgers University drove to the George Washington Bridge and jumped off and
Washington Bridge and jumped off and
Washington Bridge and jumped off and took his life it didn’t destroy his
took his life it didn’t destroy his
took his life it didn’t destroy his family but it didn’t help them it really
family but it didn’t help them it really
family but it didn’t help them it really created chaos and these beautiful
created chaos and these beautiful
created chaos and these beautiful wonderful people’s lives and they’ve
wonderful people’s lives and they’ve
wonderful people’s lives and they’ve taken the pain that they’ve gone through
taken the pain that they’ve gone through
taken the pain that they’ve gone through and they’ve moved it forward to really
and they’ve moved it forward to really
and they’ve moved it forward to really say to put out the most beautiful pledge
say to put out the most beautiful pledge
say to put out the most beautiful pledge that you can see for all kinds of people
that you can see for all kinds of people
that you can see for all kinds of people to stop take to stop bullying and I
to stop take to stop bullying and I
to stop take to stop bullying and I would ask
would ask
would ask you to take that pledge just simply you
you to take that pledge just simply you
you to take that pledge just simply you can Google upstander pledge and ask
can Google upstander pledge and ask
can Google upstander pledge and ask yourself and everything that you do if
yourself and everything that you do if
yourself and everything that you do if you are being complicit with these
you are being complicit with these
you are being complicit with these politicians that bully and other people
politicians that bully and other people
politicians that bully and other people that believe whether it’s in your family
that believe whether it’s in your family
that believe whether it’s in your family at your church at your synagogue
at your church at your synagogue
at your church at your synagogue wherever it is in life let’s end
wherever it is in life let’s end
wherever it is in life let’s end bullying thank you
bullying thank you
bullying thank you [Applause]
”
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