HILLSBORO, Ohio — The mother of a Washington Court House teen who took his own life this week due to bullying spoke publicly for the first time on Saturday.
Nikki Hall, the mother of 14-year-old Sam Diaz, expressed her desire for bullying reform in her speech at Hillsboro’s Liberty Park. The event was the town’s first-ever LGBT+ Pride celebration.
Diaz, an 8th grader at Washington Court House City Schools, took his own life on Tuesday, after friends and family say the transgender teen was bullied by his peers.
“I don’t teach my kids to hate anyone,” Hall said, as tears streamed down her face. “When I moved here to Ohio, it was for a better life. Growing up in Saint Louis was not easy for my kids. We moved somewhere quieter, somewhere we thought was safe.”
Hall said that the last two years had been nothing but kids at school taunting and harassing Diaz for who he was.
“Unfortunately, my son could not stay strong anymore. We really need to come together as a community. It can’t be like this. I wouldn’t wish this pain on anybody.”
Several hundred people attended the event, which included performers, singers, and dancers, as well as artisan booths. Hall said that Diaz would have been “so happy” to see the turnout of local pride in southern Ohio.
“Be proud of who you are, don’t be ashamed of it; don’t let anyone bully you into something like that. Reach out, don’t stay quiet, because that’s how they keep bullying us. We can’t let them win. My Sammy is gone, and I don’t want any of you to end up the same.”
Several dozen people in the crowd were crying as Hall spoke to them. She said she started her day saying goodbye to her son and decided to attend the event in his memory.
“I said goodbye to Sam this morning, and right now, I celebrate pride with you guys because I know what it means. So, today, my family and I are here today in memory of Sam, and we are proud to be here with you all.”
If you are thinking about suicide and in need of immediate support, please call the TrevorLifeline at 866-488-7386.
