A young man from Jalisco took his own life after suffering bullying and homophobic harassment from a teacher
The 17-year-old student was ignored by the institution when he reported the mistreatment and humiliation he suffered at the hands of a teacher. After his suicide became public, the teacher resigned.
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MEXICO CITY, Mexico. In the state of Jalisco, authorities at the College of Scientific and Technological Studies (CECyTEJ ) El Arenal campus ignored complaints of discrimination and homophobic harassment perpetrated by teacher Osvaldo Romero against student Jorge Alejandro García. After repeated humiliations and mistreatment, the 17-year-old died by suicide on September 27. His family and fellow students are demanding justice.
“ In his letter, my brother expressed that a large part of his decision was due to a 'teacher ,' Edgar Osvaldo Romero González (known as Gondu), who made his life miserable in many ways. He told us that the teacher humiliated him, ridiculed him, and mistreated him in front of the entire group. It is lamentable how a lack of ethics, vocation, and attention could end the life of such a young, good, and intelligent boy as my brother,” wrote Alonso García, Jorge Alejandro's brother, on social media.
According to Alonso's account, the abuses Jorge experienced were known to at least two people in positions of authority within CECyTEJ, but they ignored his complaint.
“I don’t know if the director has resolved anything, but I demand justice. Gondu (Osvaldo Romero) should not continue teaching,” wrote student Jorge Alejandro in his letter.
According to the media outlet Milenio , the Jalisco Prosecutor's Office is already investigating the events and the Internal Control Body of the Jalisco Ministry of Education has opened an investigation process to determine responsibilities.
The same media outlet added that the Secretary of Education, Juan Carlos Flores Miramontes, stated that they had no report or record of the incident.
The school knew and was negligent.
According to Alonso García (Jorge's brother), the abuse Osvaldo Romero inflicted on his brother was known to the principal of the El Arenal school. The incidents were reported not only by the student but also by his mother. Despite this, the school was negligent and failed to follow up on their complaints.
“My brother reported the situation many times to the school prefect, the principal, and to us (his family). The prefect escalated the report, but nothing ever came of it. When my mother noticed that nothing was being done about it, she asked the principal to schedule an appointment, but he refused to see her. He said he would handle it himself, that it wasn't necessary for her to come. He also said that there had already been many complaints about that teacher,” Alejandro's brother recounts.
In that communication, the director also said that Alejandro's attacker could not be fired because there were no teachers to cover his subjects.
“My mom tried many ways to fix the situation, but no one ever listened to her enough,” Alejandro’s brother warns.
Unofficially, local media reported that the aggressor, Osvaldo Ramos, upon learning of Jorge Alejandro's suicide, left his workplace and home and his whereabouts are unknown.
This is not an isolated incident.
LGBT-hating violence against students in educational centers in Mexico are not isolated incidents.
According to the analysis by the Arcoíris Foundation in schools, LGBT+ students not only face verbal harassment, but also physical harassment, sexual harassment, the spread of rumors or malicious lies, deliberate exclusion, theft or damage of personal belongings, and cyberbullying.
According to the second national survey on school violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression towards LGBT students in Mexico , prepared by the Arcoíris Foundation, 72.2% of LGBT students have at least once heard homophobic and lesbophobic comments from their teachers or other educational staff
The report highlights the infrequent intervention by educational authorities in response to LGBT-hating language.
“When students hear prejudiced language at school, it can convey to them that homophobic and lesbophobic language is tolerated. Furthermore, it legitimizes it, since most students have heard school staff make such comments at some point,” states the Arcoíris Foundation.
LGBT-hating violence against students in educational centers in Mexico are not isolated incidents.
According to the analysis by Fundación Aroíris in schools, LGBT+ students not only face verbal harassment, but also physical harassment, sexual harassment, the spread of rumors or malicious lies, deliberate exclusion, theft or damage of personal belongings, and cyberbullying.
According to the second national survey on school violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression towards LGBT students in Mexico , prepared by the Arcoíris Foundation,
The report highlights the infrequent intervention by educational authorities in response to LGBT-hating language.
“When students hear prejudiced language at school, it can convey to them that homophobic and lesbophobic language is tolerated. Furthermore, it legitimizes it, since most students have heard school staff make such comments at some point,” states the Arcoíris Foundation.
In 2021, the National Survey on Sexual and Gender Diversity ( ENDISEG, 2021 ) recorded that LGBT+ Mexicans are three times more likely to attempt suicide than cisgender heterosexuals. Furthermore, it indicates that “problems in the school environment” are the second leading cause or reason for suicidal thoughts or attempts.
The family and students demand justice.
“The only reason I’m sharing this personal information is because we want justice, just as my brother wanted it. Thank you so much to everyone for your condolences and words of support, thank you to his colleagues who have been there for him (…) Goodbye, my sweet Peppis, I love you with all my heart, thank you for being my little brother, my partner in crime, and my best friend. Thank you for everything, I’m going to miss you so much,” Alonso, Alejandro’s brother, concluded in his post.
Following the revelation of the harassment suffered by Jorge Alejandro, students at the El Arenal campus have been protesting inside the high school since Thursday, September 29. They are demanding justice and the resignation of Osvaldo Ramos and the school's director.
On social media, students shared their testimonies of how that same professor insulted them, how they were unjustifiably expelled from classrooms or received low grades, how he isolated them from the group, and how he refused to explain to the students again.
Despite the fact that the director of the CECyTEJ El Arenal campus knew that Professor Osvaldo Romero had complaints against him, the institution only responded with an image posted on its Facebook page offering condolences to the family of Jorge Alejandro García. Furthermore, it blocked comments.
CECyTEJ without a gender violence protocol
According to the CECyTEJ Code of Conduct and Ethics, every public servant working at this high school must comply with the value of "equality and non-discrimination," which states that "public servants will provide their services to all people without distinction based on sexual orientation, sex, gender, skin color, among others."
CECyTEJ lacks a protocol for preventing, addressing, and eliminating gender-based violence within its campuses. Furthermore, its Code of Conduct does not specify the procedures to follow when a student files a complaint.
The Code only clarifies that, following a complaint, the General Directorate of CECyTEJ must apply “preventive, precautionary, and/or re-education measures.” However, it does not specify which measures, how, or by whom these actions will be implemented.
Their website announces, through an infographic , that if you were a victim of sexual harassment or abuse within a CECyTEJ campus, you can report it to the following email: comitedeetica@cecytejalisco.edu.mx .
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