Vile online trolls impersonate 13-year-old who took his own life after years of homophobic bullying
By Will Stroude
Online trolls have been taunting Tyrone Unsworth’s grieving friends and family by impersonating the teenager on Facebook.
Tyrone Unsworth, a Year 7 student at Aspley State high school in Brisbane, was just 13 when he took his own life last week (November 22). Tyrone’s mother, Amanda, said that her son was targeted by bullies because of his perceived sexuality.
“He was a really feminine male, he loved fashion, he loved make-up. The boys always picked on him, calling him gay-boy, faggot, fairy; it was a constant thing from year five,” she told The Courier Mail.
But according to The Daily Mail, in the days following the youngster’s death, his family faced fresh grief as anonymous trolls began creating fake Facebook profiles using his name.
One profile left grinning emojis underneath a post offering condolences to Tyrone’s family. When someone challenged one of them, they replied, “My issue with Tyrone is that he’s a fag.”
Australian LGBT+ rights activist Rodney Croome told Daily Mail Australia that the trolling was indicative of how large a problem anti-LGBT+ sentiment still is in Australia.
“I extend my sympathies to the family of Tyrone Unsworth and share their outrage that he is being bullied beyond the grave,” Mr Croome said.
“The continued bullying highlights how deep the hatred of LGBTI people still runs in some parts of Australian society.”
He also called on politicians, parents and teachers to ensure people are taught acceptance from a young age: “Homophobic prejudice is learnt and it can be unlearnt, beginning in the classroom,” he added.
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