MINERSVILLE

The Magnus Hirschfeld Centre for Human Rights

Crosswicks House, Post Office Box 1974
Bloomfield, New Jersey USA 07003
Tele/Facsimile: (862) 823-1767 E-Mail: HumanRights@post.com

THE MINERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA TRAGEDY:SUICIDE OF GAY CHILD BECAUSE OF POLICE MISCONDUCT

18 year-old Minersville (PA) High School Student Marcus Wayman is dead of a bullet he put in his brain the evening after a local police officer - son of Minersville's Police Chief - threatened to reveal to the boy's grandfather the fact that his grandson was gay. A third circuit Federal Court of Appeals ruling deilivered in connection with the civil 'wrongful death' suit brought in state court by Marcus' mother has authoritatively decided that there exists a 'right to privacy' in matters of young peoples' sexual orientation.

Notwithstanding that decision, a state court civil jury cleared the police officers - who instigated the youth's suicide - of responsibility for his death.

CALL FOR ACTION:

Write to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's local office (504 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101-1500) or call (610-433-6488) demanding an investigation into the police conduct for the purpose filing federal criminal charges (in addition to civil "Conspiracy to Deprive a Citizen of Civil Rights" charges, per 42 USC 1983 et seq.).

Write to the Chief of the Minersville Police Department (Chief Robert Bergan, 136 South Third Street, Minersville PA 17954) or call (570-544-2333) demanding that his police officers be adequately trained in sensitivity to sexual minority issues and a written policy for his department be adopted.

Write to the Governor of Pennsylvania (Governor Mark Schweiker, 225 Main Capitol, Harrisburg, PA 17120) or call (717) 787-2500 demanding the legislation be adopted to prevent a recurrence of the Minersville Tragedy.

Write to the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Patrick L. Meehan, 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250, Philadelphia, PA 19106) or call (215-861-8200) or fax (215-861-8609) demanding that his office undertake the prosecution of the police officers involved on federal criminal charges and a civil action for "Conspiracy to Deprive of Civil Rights" under ttile 42 of the United States Code.

Learn more about the 'Marcus Wayman' case by clicking on the articles below: