SUMMARY: Brad Matthew Fuglei, a 19-year-old who organized gay rights rallies at his high school in Omaha, died in an apparent suicide last Friday.
Brad Matthew Fuglei, a 19-year-old who organized gay rights rallies at his high school in Omaha, Neb., died in an apparent suicide last Friday, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
Family, friends and members of the community were reportedly "bewildered" as to why the talented, upbeat 2001 graduate of North High School would take his life.
Omaha police report that Fuglei was found by his mother in the driver's seat of his car, which was parked in the garage and running. A suicide note was found in the house, but details were not released.
Fuglei reportedly came out at the age of 14, and he worked with several Gay Straight Alliances in area schools. Last year he participated in an unsuccessful attempt to add sexual orientation to a nondiscrimination policy in the Millard school district.
In 1998, the World-Herald published a feature article on Fuglei and his organizing of a local vigil in memory of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who had been brutally murdered in Wyoming.
At North High School, Fuglei was senior class president and elected homecoming king last year. He performed in several theatrical productions and was a member of the National Honor Society.
By Tuesday, dozens of postings on the World-Herald Web site paid tribute to the young man's talents and kindness; many also expressed shock over his death.
Andrea Flanagan, a Creighton University law student who didn't know Fuglei, wrote: "We should all be extremely concerned about what we have lost here. We as individuals, we as strangers, we as a community. We have lost a bright soul, a shining star, someone who made such a difference in his short lifetime yet has left us wondering … what could have been?" Police ask friends of gay man's killer to come forward.
Omaha News Channell
http://www.theomahachannel.com/oma/news/stories/news-110122520011203-161226.html
North High School Prepares for Protest
Kansas Group Holds Rallies in Omaha
December 3, 2001
OMAHA, Neb. -- Students and administrators at North High School are preparing for protests Friday against a student who recently committed suicide.
Brad Fuglei (pictured, right) was an outspoken student on gay rights. He graduated from North High School in May, but took his own life about one month ago.
A small group of activists from Topeka, Kan., plans to hold a protest outside North High School, and a few other sites around Omaha, on Friday to protest the accomplishments of Fuglei.
About 20 protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka will be at North High School at about noon Friday. From there, they will move to Northwest High School, Unity Church and Forest Lawn Cemetery. Each protest will last about 30 minutes.
The group is led by Fred Phelps (pictured, left) who has been outspoken against homosexuality. A flyer distributed by the church said, "It's not OK to be gay," along with other anti-homosexual remarks.
Omaha Public Schools superintendent John Mackiel said parents would be welcome to escort their children to school if they feel threatened.
The staff of North High School is asking students to simply ignore the protests. Administrators and teachers wrote a note that was read to the students Monday.
"Regardless of our individual religious beliefs concerning homosexuality, the North High family is united because we cannot condone the hatred this group wishes to spread," the letter said.
The letter warned students to be prepared for offensive statements and signs featuring Fuglei's picture.
"We refuse to perpetuate hatred or be moved to violence. Instead of allowing their anger to crush us, we can use this as another opportunity to show that North High is a good place to be," the letter said.
As a silent counter-protest, students and faculty at North High School are encouraged to wear blue and yellow on Friday. The student council is also selling ribbons to show support for the school.
To help you judge the merits of the situation, KETV NewsWatch 7 has decided to post the test of the statements made by both the church and the school. The links to these statements are in the "More Details" box above. The statements do not necessarily reflect the opinions of KETV, Hearst Argyle Television or Internet Broadcasting Systems.
Copyright 2001 by TheOmahaChannel.com. All rights reserved.
OMAHA, Neb. -- The family of a teenager who is the focus of an anti-gay protest scheduled for Friday said they plan to ignore the protesters.
Brad Fuglei was an openly gay student at North High School. His classmates told KETV NewsWatch 7 that he was a popular student and was elected to the student council.
Fuglei graduated from the school in May, but he took his own life the week before Thanksgiving.
"He was a beautiful kid and I think he did know it. Maybe he was just confused," his brother Scott Fuglei said. "He was openly gay and happy and didn't have a problem with that and no one else did either."
On Friday, a group of about 20 people is expected to protest Brad's lifestyle outside North High School.
The group is led by Fred Phelps (pictured, left), who operates a church in Topeka, Kan.
Phelps believes the media has turned Fuglei into a role model. A flier printed by Phelps' group says, "It's not okay to be gay. It will destroy life, damn the soul, and doom the nation."
The group plans to start its protests at North High School at about 11 a.m. From there, it will move to Northwest High School, Unity Church and Forest Lawn Cemetery, where Brad is buried.
The Fuglei family has seen Phelps' Web site. They know Phelps plans to spread hateful messages about gay people on Friday.
"I'm happy that in this country you can be an idiot," Scott Fuglei said. The family plans to ignore the protests. Instead, they said they will spend the day focusing on Brad's life and accomplishments.
North High School is asking students to also ignore the protesters. Students and faculty are encourage to wear blue and yellow as a peaceful demonstration of unity for their school.
The local office of the Anti-Defamation League also wants people to ignore Phelps and his group. The ADL said if nobody pays attention, it will be a wasted trip for the group.
"We would urge people not to show up at the places they plan to picket and counter protest. This is exactly what they want," Bob Wolfson of the Anti-Defamation League said.
Many of Phelps' supporters are attorneys. They said they would bring video cameras to record any violent retaliation as evidence.
Copyright 2001 by TheOmahaChannel.com. All rights reserved.
OMAHA, Neb. -- It has not been a usual Friday for students at Omaha's North High School as anti-gay protesters approached the school, where they were met by a counter protest.
A small group of people held anti-gay signs outside the school Friday. The group is led by Fred Phelps of Topeka, Kan., who is an outspoken critic of the gay lifestyle.
Phelps did not actually show up at Friday's protest. He apparently had another obligation in Florida.
A flier released by Phelps' church said, "It's not OK to be gay. It will destroy the life, damn the soul, doom the nation."
The group picked North High School because it is where Brad Fuglei graduated last May. Fuglei was openly gay and supported such causes.
Friends said Fuglei (pictured, right) was very popular and liked by many people. He participated in many school events and was elected to the student council.
However, Fuglei took his own life last month. Some friends speculated that his lifestyle led to his suicide, but the Fuglei family said Brad did not have a problem with his lifestyle.
The family planned to ignore Friday's protests . "I'm happy that in this country you can be an idiot," Brad's brother, Scott Fuglei, said. The family plans to focus on Brad's accomplishments.
The protest remained calm before it ended at about 11:30 a.m. The anti-gay protesters remained on one side of the street. Across Ames Avenue, a larger group was on hand to spread the message of love and tolerance.
Among the people promoting tolerance was Liberty Hutchinson. She lives next to the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka. "We're letting them know we're standing up against the hate. Whether it's the KKK or them, this is not what Topeka is about," Hutchinson said.
The anti-gay protesters also planned to bring their message to Northwest High School, where North High's former principal now works. After protesting the schools, the group moved to Unity Church and Forest Lawn Cemetery, where Brad Fuglei is buried. Each protest lasted about half an hour.
School administrators at North High wanted to keep the day as normal as possible. Teachers asked students to ignore the protesters. School leaders said retaliating against the protesters is exactly what the group wants.
Instead, students were encouraged to wear blue and yellow Friday as a show of support for their school. Some students also tied yellow ribbons around trees.
Copyright 2001 by TheOmahaChannel.com. All rights reserved.
Omaha News Channell
http://www.theomahachannel.com/oma/news/stories/news-110127020011203-161218.html
Statement From North High School
The following text is taken, as appears, on a statement distributed at North High School.
On Friday, Dec. 7, a group of national protesters, may be picketing several sites in Omaha, including North High. They are doing this because fo the accomplishments and friends that Brad Fuglei had at this school.
Regardless of our individual religious beliefs concerning homosexuality, the North high Family is united because we cannot condone the hatred this group wishes to spread.
The leader of this group, Fred Phelps of Topeka, KS, is coming to purposely cause anger and hurt. Freedom of Speech allows him to do this on public sidewalks but not on North property. The group's goal is to make us lose control and have us physically or verbally confront them, proving their point. We cannot allow them this satisfaction. The best thing to do is to totally ignore their presence and act as if we don't even see them. Usually, if no response or attention is given, they will consider their effort a failure and leave.
You can expect that they will be peaceful and obey the law, but they will bring unbelievably offensive signs, some of which may have Brad's picture on them with a derogatory statement. These signs will make you want to react, but remember that is exactly what they want.
We must all try hard on Friday to prove to Phelps, the press, and the community that North High is a caring place. We refuse to perpetuate hatred or be moved to violence. Instead of allowing their anger to crush us, we can use this as another opportunity to show that North High is a good place to be. If they do come on Friday, it will be hard for all of us to ignore them, but we can do it together. We are asking that everyone show their united spirit by wearing blue and yellow on Friday.
If you have questions about this situation, please talk to your counselor or other trusted staff members.
Omaha News Channell
http://www.theomahachannel.com/oma/news/stories/news-110125020011203-161206.html
News Release from Westboro Baptist Church
The following text is taken, as appears, on a flyer printed by the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan.
WBC to picket North High School, Omaha, NB, principal Bernice Nared now at Northwest High, Unity Church and Forest Lawn Cemetery where Brad Fuglei's body lies, Dec. 7, in religious protest/warning: God is not mocked! Your pro-gay lies sent Brad to Hell!
"Thou salt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith." Lev. 18:22,23. Death penalty for both sins. Lev. 20:13,15. It's NOT OK to be gay. It will destroy the life, damn the soul, doom the nation. Those who encouraged Brad Fuglei in his brazen blatant defiance of God are to blame for Brad's suicide and entrance into Hell.
Matt Shepard's been in Hell 3 years -- eternity left to go! Media-touted vigils, memorials, caterwauling -- can't buy him a drop of water to cool his tongue or a day off his sentence!
And so it is with Brad Fuglei. Brad met Matt in Hell last Friday -- and they bitterly cursed each other! Tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holdy angels and the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day or night. Rev. 14:10,11. Amen!
WBC picketed shepard's funeral to warn all the Brad Fugleis not to make a hero of Shepard, lest they wind up with Shepard in Hell!