A Second Centennial Student Is Victimized After Coming Out

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about Centennial High School senior Ryan Eichenauer [see post HERE] who, shortly after coming out as gay — though he called it not a coming out but letting people in — received death threats from anonymous students because he had the nerve to be gay and openly gay at that. And now, Noah Ratgen, yet another Centennial High School student is telling the same story, about what happened to him when he came out.

"It hurt — just like calling someone fat or ugly. There's no reason to do it at all. I just don't understand why we're such a big problem." — Noah Ratgen, an 8th grade student at Centennial

After Ratgen came out late last fall, also using social media as a way to tell his classmates, he and his family awoke one morning o find that their driveway had been vandalized.

"On the driveway, written in very large letters: 'God hates fags.' It was absolutely disgusting. I went and washed it off right away." — Brad Ratgen, Noah’s father

The family reported the graffiti to police, but no arrests were ever made; the incident was filed as a hate crime with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. In addition, Centennial Superintendent Brian Dietz says the probe into the death threats left for Ryan Eichenauer was continuing aggressively.

That’s one thing the two incidents have in common: all parties involved commend the school district for their swift action and sensitivity toward the victims. Ryan Eichenauer took to social media to thank the district for how it has handled the situation.

"Centennial High School is a fantastic school, they have done a lot to make sure I, as well as other students, feel safe. I am very glad with how the staff and elders are handling this situation. My only problem is the maturity of other students." — Ryan Eichenauer

It was after learning about what happened to Ryan Eichenauer that the Ratgen family decided to take their story to the media; they wanted Ryan to know he isn't alone in the community when it comes to being targeted for who he is.

"There's reason people do it anonymously. They know it's wrong. They know it's hate-filled. No one wants to be associated. That's why they do it under the cover of darkness at night, why they leave a note on a desk at school." — Brad Ratgen

Both instances began the same way: someone came out as gay. And in both instances the anonymous letter writers and the anonymous vandals used God as the reason for their hate. If these people really believed in God, I wonder how they feel knowing their “God” can hate.

And don’t get me started on those states that are trying to make religious discrimination of the LGBT community legal, because what they are actually doing is making it okay for these so-called God-fearing people to leave death threats on desks and hate messages on the pavement.

That’s not God, no matter what you think of God.

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Minnesota Student Comes Out ... Receives Death Threats

I have always opted on the side of coming out for gay folks because I truly believe that the more of us that are out and open and just living our lives, the less the bigots and homophobes will have to fear. But every so often, something happens that makes me realize that coming out is not only painful and hurtful, it can often be deadly.

Six weeks ago, Centennial High School senior Ryan Eichenauer, told the world, or at least his social media friends on Facebook, that he was gay, and he felt good about it, saying, "I'm really proud to be out and be myself. I get to do what I want without having to hide anymore."

Then, last week he walked into his English class and found an anonymous threatening letter that has spurred a police investigation. The letter reads, in part,

"Ryan,

I see there are many others who also want you dead. Good. And it's not just the two of us who have decided to speak up. It's everyone. […] like you don't deserve to live in this world. Innocent people die every day, but the scum of the earth like you gets to live? […] that. That is about to change. No one likes the fact that you are alive. No one likes the way you show your sexuality. You are a […] sinner. Someone should do something about it…I will. I am not a coward. I protect the house of god from […] like you."

Lovely; for the act of saying the words I’m gay this anonymous asshat thinks Ryan Eichenauer should die. Luckily Ryan says the threats won't change who he is.

"I know there are going to be people in life who don't agree with it. But that's who I am."

He had no idea the hate and venom that would spew forth once he posted his coming out video to Facebook, but he is quick to point out that he isn’t really “coming out” he’s just “letting the world in;” I kinda like how that sounds But within weeks of letting people in, he found two anonymous threatening letters placed on his desk in two separate classrooms.

Not only did the notes attack his sexuality, but one says "I can't wait for the day that I get to walk over your grave and if you don't put yourself there, I will be glad to. Just do us all a favor and do it soon. Kill yourself already."

Eichenauer reported the note to authorities and both the school and local police are investigating. But sometimes it’s hard to find these scared little people who hide behind the “Anonymous” label; who send death threats to a high school kid because that kid is gay, and at peace with himself. I kind of imagine that “Anonymous” is also gay, and scared, and afraid of being who he or she is, and afraid of what people might think; that people might want him, or her, dead. 

But kudos to Ryan for standing tall and proud and out and unafraid.

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