JUST ADDED: AUDIO OF LISTENER REACTION TO INTERVIEW In a passionate, emotional interview that at times deeply angered me, I interviewed on Afternoons with Amos former Tech High School student Darnell Dynasty Young and his mother Chelisa Grimes. Dynasty was expelled from Tech last month by IPS officials because he brought, at his mom’s insistence, an electronic stun device to help fight off bullies at his school. Dynasty is an openly gay student whose goal is to be a dancer. In our interview, Dynasty and his mom said Tech’s principal demanded that he be “less flamboyant” in his dress even though Dynasty fully complied with Tech & IPS’ dress code. In the interview Dynasty said he’d thought about taking his life because of the bullying and harassment, but he was stronger than that. Mrs. Grimes implored our Black community to stand up against bullying and take it seriously. She also talked about her son being attacked last month at Circle Centre Mall and questioned why the attacker who shouted an anti-gay slur at her son hadn’t been charged with a hate crime. Later, listeners called with reactions extremely supportive of Young and Grimes and pointing out examples of bullying and IPS and township school districts not taking bullying complaints seriously.
Click The Arrow Below to Hear the Interview with Darnell Dynasty Young and Chelisa Grimes. Runs 50 Minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One.
Click Arrow Below to Hear Listener/Community Reaction to Dynasty’s ordeal. Runs 46 Minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One.
