COOL GROUP CALLS THEM "LEZ"

Dear Jellybean,

At my school, there is one cool group. See, when all the cool peps came from the elementary schools, they joined together. The original group from MY old school had always hated me and my friends, and I don't know why! All I remember is one day the coolest girl in the school started teasing me about god knows what, and I've been trying to fight back ever since! This started in first grade. Now I'm in 8th grade. Last year we were all trying to get used to the big crowds and many classes of junior high, but just this year, my friends and I have heard it start again. "Are you Lez?" "God, you guyz must be lez!" "Lesbians!!!" Now, first of all, and lets get one thing straight, my friends and I are NOT lez, and we do NOT do ANYTHING to provoke the name. Never have, never will. I've tryed ignoring them, telling them off, telling my parents and my teachers, but nothing has WORKED!!! For the sake of my friends dignity and my own, HELP!!!
-Heather

Dear Heather,

I am so sorry that you and your friends are being harrassed by bullies. Here are some steps you can take to change the situation, but remember it's NOT your fault. These girls have personality defects! Anyway, the steps:

1) Next time one of these b*tches calls you a "lez", look her straight in the eye (to show her you're not scared of her, which is important) and say "You are like obsessed with lesbians! Hmmm, I wonder why? Maybe you should get some therapy about that." In other words, TEASE THEM BACK and use their own words against them. The key: be strong and don't let them see that they affect you. And say your comments LOUD so others hear it and the bully gets embarrassed. This approach can work, because bullies are usually cowards who will give up pretty easily if their victim fights back. (PS: There is NOTHING wrong with being lesbian, just so you know. But there is something wrong with starting untrue rumors and attacking people, and that is what these girls are doing).

2) If this doesn't get them to back off, go straight to the school office and demand to speak to the principal. Tell him/her that you are being harrassed and it is affecting your schoolwork. Give the names of the girls who are teasing you, and state that you deserve a harrassment-free school environment. Say if the school can't take action, your parents will have to take bigger steps.

3) Tell your parents again. No matter how many times you've told them before, insist that this teasing business is serious. Let them know that it affects your self-esteem and your ability to concentrate or do well in school. Then ask them to phone or visit the school principal to make it clear that your family expects the school's help in stopping this situation.

4) Remind yourself every day that you are an amazing, sweet girl who doesn't deserve to be treated badly, ever. You have had the bad luck to be picked on by a group of idiots, who have nothing better to do than make someone else feel bad. In this world, where so many terrible things happen, anyone who goes out of their way to do that to kids their own age is not much better than a psychopath. So realize that they are the ones who are rejected, not you. Have fun with your friends. Be positive. Don't let these jerkoffs rob you of your self-esteem. One day you will be something, and they will always be nothing because they are ugly inside. That doesn't help now, but someday there will be satisfaction in that. Hang strong!