Mum says bullying at school led to openly gay 9-year-old son taking his own life

A mother believes bullying at school led to her 9-year-old son committing suicide just days after he came out as gay.

Leia Pierce told CNN her son, Jamel Myles, came out as gay to her over the summer break before starting at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School in Denver, Colorado last Monday.

"He looked so scared when he told me. He was like Mom I'm gay. And I thought he was playing, so I looked back because I was driving, and he was all curled up, so scared. And I said, I still love you.

"He went to school and said he was gonna tell people he's gay because he's proud of himself," Ms Pierce told CNN.

Tragically after only four days into the new school year she found her son dead.

"Four days is all it took," Ms Pierce said. "My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself. I'm just sad he didn't come to me."

Denver Public Schools sent a letter to pupils' families on Friday announcing extra social workers and crisis teams for students.

Jamel's mother hopes the tragedy will raise awareness of the harm bullying can cause.

"We should have accountability for bullying. I think the child should. Because the child knows it's wrong. The child wouldn't want someone to do it to them.

"I think the parent should be held because obviously the parents are either teaching them to be like that, or they're treating them like that."

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