Gay 13 Year Asher Brown Celebrated; Houston City Councilwoman Calls For Creation Of New Anti-Bullying Initiative Called “Asher’s Rule”

Saturday, family and friends released hundreds of balloons to celebrate 13 year old Asher Brown, the Reverend Jonnathan Truong, the boy’s step-uncle saying his spirit was “like a free bird” that needed to be let go, according to the Dallas Voice. He added that “The bullies picked on my nephew because of the way he dress, how he talked, and the fact he was small. He was a David among Goliaths. But Asher’s heart was so big! His heart made him a giant.” Over 250 classmates, family members, and friends crowded the 60 chairs the family set up for the memorial service that took place near Moore Elementary School, there to offer condolences and comfort for the family of Asher, who took his own life late Thursday afternoon, shooting himself in the head after enduring what his parents say were years of bullying and harassment at Hamilton Middle School. Among those in attendance was Houston City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones, who told the crowd that Asher’s death “will not go in vain,” as she announced her hope that the city set up a new program honouring the young man called “Asher’s Rule, which will work to eliminate bullying in area schools. Reverend Truong said “gay and straight alike are perfect in God’s sight. God doesn’t make any mistakes,” who called on the crowd to look beyond what happened to Asher as something beyond a “gay issue,” saying “This is a hate issue, and we are not going to rest until all children are safe from hate at school.”