#ronin shimizu

December 3rd 2014 was the day 12-year-old Ronin Shimizu,California,decided to end his life.

Why?

Because of the constant bullying he suffered from not adhering to current gender norms. Ronin Shimizu was a kind, polite boy who was passionate about fashion and cheerleading. He was the only male cheerleader with the Vista Junior Eagles Cheer Team and excelled at it. He sketched out his own designs and had an eye for fashion. But the other students at Folsom Middle School would not accept Ronin for who he was. They simply could not forget what they had been taught about how a boy should be. So they bullied and tormented him. They turned his life into a living hell. The constant harassment made him abandon cheerleading, which he loved. They made him leave school to be home-schooled. They made him not want to live anymore.

Gender norms are damaging, so please think critically and be kind!