The Jumper Maybach Movie has been a work in progress for almost two years now. It has not always been easy, and my troupe and I have spent a considerable amount of time doing the film. It sometimes was downright difficult with long hours in front of the camera. Quite a bit of personal sacrifice was part of the cost. People ask me why I am doing this; why am I not willing to just live a quiet life in the background. It is a very simple reason. I understand what it is like to undergo bullying and I want it stopped!
The victim is often accused of being the cause of all of it. Something they did, or something they said, or who they are is thought to be the reason for all the verbal and physical attacks. The one who does the harm is rarely punished. There are even those who say that if the victim changes then the abuse will go away. It does not happen. Bullies don’t stop what they are doing. I know because I have been a victim.
When you are being bullied you live in fear. You always worry when the next attack is going to happen. You will wonder why someone is picking on you, and never quite know the reason. It gets frustrating as time goes on. I was afraid to tell my parents about it when I was a kid. I was worried that if I told them I was gay they would love me less. So, like many other victims, I kept silent and hoped things would finally get better. Sadly, they didn’t.
My employer has a policy against harassment which was ignored and the bullying continued. Even when I took them in front of an EEO Administrative Judge and won, the managers still continued to tolerate the abuse I suffered. What I endured is not out of the ordinary. My story of bullying happens every day in schools and in workplaces all over the country. I can no longer be quiet about all of this. Teachers, employers, politicians and the public need to know what a social cancer the constant tormenting really is.
Bullying isn’t funny at all. It leads to a feeling of being worthless and is a leading cause of suicide. The Jumper Maybach Movie is the story of what I was put through by angry bigots. It is also a call for change. Laws have to be passed to protect those LGBT people who are afraid of being harassed at work. Company policies to protect everyone from bullying need to be written and enforced. I am an advocate for all those who have endured the verbal and physical slaps of those who should know better. No one should be afraid to go to work or to school.
My personal motto is "Seek Love, Peace, and Happiness and Hate will disappear forever.” I have centered my life on it. The Jumper Maybach Movie is my story and how I was able to rise about the hate and anger directed at me. I want everyone who sees this documentary to understand that society can improve, and we must rise above the taunts and slams. We can have a better, more tolerant society where everyone is accepted for who they are, and not what someone else wants them to be. No one should be afraid to go to work or be frightened of school. We must put an end to intimidation and stop bullies from owning our lives. I promise you I will not stop until that goal has been reached.