High school student says he was attacked in locker room for being gay
A high school student was left with a broken news after the attack (Creative Commons)
A high school student in Alexandria, Indiana was left with a broken nose after he was assaulted in a locker room for being gay.
The Alexandria Monroe High School student, who has asked not to be named, spoke to local outlet WTHR after footage of the incident in the boys’ locker room circulated online.
He told the outlet that another student attacked him as he was getting dressed following gym class on Tuesday (August 20), repeatedly pushing him before starting to throw punches.
High school student left with bloodied, broken nose after attack in locker room
The teen explained: “I felt him punch me a couple more times and I got hit my face on the mirror and then he punched me in the head twice.
“It happened so fast. I can remember them holding me against the wall.”
The student’s nose was broken and bloodied in the unprovoked attack.
The school is investigating the incident (File photo)
The Indiana teen said he was used to homophobic bullying at the school, adding: “I’ve gotten so used to it over the years that it doesn’t phase me much.
“I just tell myself to forget what happened and try to act like it never happened.”
Local police are investigating the incident, alongside school district officials.
The teen added: “I’m not OK, but I will be.
“Stay true to yourself and if you get hit, do the best you can to make sure it never happens again.”
Principal claims school teaches ‘tolerance and acceptance’
Alexandria Monroe High School Principal Tom Johns told the Herald Bulletin that one tenth-grader has been disciplined over the incident, but investigations remain ongoing.
He said: “You hate when these things happen. It makes you sick to your stomach.
“We had some other kids involved, and we’re trying to figure out what their roles were.”
He added: “We try to do everything we can to teach tolerance and acceptance. At the end of the day, the parents have the responsibility to teach open mindedness and acceptance.”
Alexandria police chief Matt Ellis told the newspaper that the motive of the incident has not been confirmed, adding: “This is a big deal. We don’t want to put out anything prematurely.”
