Aiden Rivera Schaeff – Age 17
I learned earlier this week of the tragic suicide of Aiden Rivera Schaeff which occurred one year ago today, 22 April 2010. Aiden was 17 year of age, and attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase high school in Montgomery County, Maryland. According to the family’s web site, created in tribute to Aiden, Aiden entered high school “as a girl and after identifying the he felt more at peace as a boy, transitioned to his new identity without hiding who he was. The school authorities were extremely supportive of his determination to live his life as who he was. Some of his fellow-students were not so kind. ”
The family wishes to create an endowment at American University in Washington DC to fund student-run initiatives aimed at: Reducing Bullying against LGBT high school aged youth and helping at-risk youth to survive bullying when it does occur. Please visit the family site to participate in their L’il Dude Big Heart program to fund this endowment.
Visit the family’s tribute web site: Aiden Rivera Schaeff: Lil’ Dude, Big Heart
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With the addition of Aiden, the number of suicides associated with bullied youth now stands at 35.
Thank you for your kind words and for spreading the word that kindness matters in all things. Lives literally depend on it.
You and your family have my sincere sympathy. Life has sufficient challenges, if we can remove bullying from the equation not only will we literally be saving lives, we will be assisting in all of their interactions for the remainder of their lives a net plus to our society.
Thank you for writing this piece, Christopher! It will mean a lot to all those who knew and loved Aiden. I will share this with Aiden’s family.