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Jonah Mowry: Is the video real, faked, or does it matter?

When I saw the video above, I'm not going to lie, I sobbed.  I guess it hits close to home, and I really really really hate gay bullying.

But then I noticed a tiny link in a comment under the video saying the whole thing was faked and it was a hoax, AND LOTS MORE BULLYING.  Right because to fight fire, you shouldn't use water, you should ABSOLUTELY use gasoline.  (sigh.)

I don't know if he actually lied or what, but he does kind of come off as annoying and I think he deleted it because: one, it's a crappy video, and two, it's not very eloquent or well thought out.  The first one had cards and real emotions.  I get that he's trying to thank people for being nice, and kind of call out the ones who aren't, BUT I'm not buying the facade in this video. This kid is not doing better, and needs some help.  Maybe I'm naive, but I'd hate to troll this kid for being fake, if he actually took it down because he is ACTUALLY hopeless.

The second video was posted on his YouTube account, then almost immediately deleted and was about four months after the first one in August.


At the end of the day there are three important things to think about here, none of which include "did this kid lie?"  He's a teenager and he's bound to lie about something at some point, so not a big deal.


This kid was sensationalized because although he was bullied from first grade, began self-mutilation at second grade (and is now just starting eighth grade), and was targeted and bullied for being gay, he somehow voices a message of strength.  It's kind of a "I HOPE it gets better" video.

I've been a teenager and bullied and an outcast.  Sometimes the only voice you can hear cheering for you is your own, whether it be "faking it till you make it" or genuine.  Who cares, like I said, there are three thing that are take-home messages from all of this.

1. Where is this kid right now, and how does he REALLY feel?
2. It takes some time to heal wounds, physically and emotionally, so I believe the first one before I would buy the second.
3. Whether either are real or faked or whatever, there has been an outstanding flood of support to this kid and other bullied abused kids.  That positivity can't be manufactured.  Four months can't undo eight years of hell, but knowing you're not the only person in the world who feels like you do and gets called names means something. 

Most folks have seen Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" video, or "I Give a Damn," or even one of the "FKH8" videos.  My favorite is still the crumpled up piece of paper parable.  Bullying is like folding a piece of paper, or balling it up.  You can kind of undo the damage a little, but there are permanent effects.

Instead of trolling to see whether this kid is telling the truth or not, go find someone to stand up for.  Maybe even your own kids, neighbors, relatives, or the weird kid who always eats alone.  If you are an adult and you know this kid or a kid in his shoes, REACH OUT. Sometimes life is messy, and it's better to have a complicated situation with someone who is still here, than to wonder what you should or could have done.

All it takes is to care about someone to change their life.

Peace, Love, and Rock and Roll,
Shayna