Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > News Items
Gay teen flees to avoid Utah boarding school
cmack:
A teen boy, either 14 or 15 years old, fled a CA airport because he didn't want to return to an unnamed Utah boarding school. He is described in news reports as being autistic with high-functioning Asperger's syndrome. Mainstream news reports give scant details, but a West Hollywood blog gives a much more detailed account and says the boy had been sent away because he is gay.
First news article below:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... chool.html
The parents of an autistic teen who left Bob Hope Airport on Wednesday and was found hours later in West Hollywood did not pay the airline for an attending escort, an aviation source said — allowing the boy to escape the notice of officials until he was long gone.
Cameron James Smith was scheduled to fly to a specialized school in Salt Lake City. When he was found seven hours later, he told police he was running away because he did not want to return to the school, the Burbank Leader reported.
Cameron was spotted a little after 5:30 p.m. by two people in the heart of West Hollywood. They recognized him from a news alert they had received on their smartphones.
They informed Cameron the police were looking for him, and he ducked into the Pizza Rustica restaurant near Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards, Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn said.
They followed him into the restaurant, where Cameron locked himself in the restroom. They called the Burbank Police Department, and Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies contacted the boy in the restaurant.
Cameron was brought back to the Burbank Police Department, interviewed and released to his mother, Ryburn said.
Earlier in the morning, Cameron's mother had taken him to the airport to make sure he boarded a 10:30 a.m. Delta Connection flight safely. But when the plane experienced mechanical problems, it returned to the gate, where the passengers exited the aircraft, according to airport officials.
Cameron left the airport and took a shuttle to the airport's entrance, where he caught a bus to West Hollywood, Burbank police said.
The aviation source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said Thursday that Cameron's parents did not pay an unaccompanied minor fee and told the airline that Cameron was older than 14. They also did not tell the airline he was autistic with high-functioning Asperger's syndrome, the source said.
Each airline has its own guidelines for minor passengers. The policy at SkyWest, which operates Delta Connection, is that an unaccompanied minor fee must be paid for passengers 14 and younger who are flying alone, an official for the airline said.
Airport officials on Wednesday said the boy's mother, whom authorities have not identified, told them that her son was 14. In later conversations with Burbank police, officers said she told them he was 15.
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BELOW IS THE REPORT FROM THE WEST HOLLYWOOD BLOG
http://www.wehoconfidential.com/2011/10 ... up-at.html
Cameron James Smith made it on every news affiliate yesterday afternoon when he ran away from Burbank airport only to be found ordering a vodka orange juice at the Abbey.
The wait staff recognized the runaway boy from the news & asked for ID before serving him a regular orange juice. When asked for his name Cameron told the Abbey Manager, Nick Lambert, that his name was George. Nick showed Cameron his photo on the news and Cameron bolted. He kicked off his freshly acquired Casual Cool boat shoes in the park & ran into Pizza Rustica where he asked to use the restroom. He locked himself in & eventually surrendered to Lambert when he sat a table in the pizza shop.
The story the media portrays is that of "an autistic child is safe today after running away from the Burbank airport when his mother failed to ensure his safe departure". The media won't tell you that Cameron is gay, that he's being shipped away for his homosexual tendencies (again) or that he'll be bullied into a closet for the next four years no thanks to his parents.
Cameron didn't run away from school. He simply fled to the only gay sanctuary he'd ever heard of, hoping that someone there could save him. It was almost as if he was told "It gets Better" by a president who believes that marriage equality should be left up to the state & when he tried to seek sanctuary the universe said "not today kid!" Without realizing it Cameron's only hope was to land on safe soil but unfortunately this young man didn't flee Cuba & the Abbey is not Miami beach aka freedom.
So as important as it is to recognize the boys who committed suicide this month it's more important to recognize the one who reached out for help but was never heard. Cameron is already being sent packing, back to some bleak second rate version of a life away from his family.
When asked for comment Abbey founder David Cooley had this to say:
This brave young man was in the process of being returned to the state of Utah where being gay is not tolerated. Cameron obviously fled to the Abbey because it's renowned for being a safe haven for members of the gay community & my heart pours out to him during this difficult time in his life. I hope Cameron knows he has a family here & that he touched our lives in a very powerful way today.
We hope that someone reaches out to this boy, while he's still alive before it's too late. The boy who had the balls to follow a path that didn't end in suicide. Maybe GLADD, EQCA or HRC could reach out to Cameron... or are they too busy worrying about your checkbooks?
------------------------------
BELOW IS A LINK FROM THE ABOVE BLOG POST ABOUT ANOTHER TEEN'S EXPERIENCE AT A PROGRAM. I CAN POST THE TEXT IF PEOPLE WANT BUT IT'S QUITE LONG.
http://www.wehoconfidential.com/2011/10 ... -utah.html
cmack:
Here are some comments posted on the West Hollywood blog:
Anonymous said...
O Yeah David Cooley, abbey is known for being a safe haven for drug addicts, fat bachelorette parties, porn stars, half naked GoGO Boys and Abel everyones favorite Drug dealer! You really kept him safe, not even letting him finish his drink, sure you took his money before turning him in! Hopefully when the boy runs away again he will Venture to Fiesta where his well, OJ won't be 12 dollars but 2 for 1!
October 20, 2011 8:24 PM
Anonymous said...
Cameron came into the beauty shop where I work around 4 o'clock that day. We didn't realize he was a runaway. He was trying to buy some bleach for his hair, and apparently had asked my coworker in the front of the store if she knew of a shelter where he could stay. I wish I'd have overheard that part of the conversation; maybe he could have been directed to the Gay & Lesbian Center, where someone trained to handle that sort of situation could have helped him. My other coworker saw the ordeal on the news, and portrayed it as a kid running away from school, but I'm pretty sure that's just a facade that was designed to put a socially acceptable face over the real reasons for his running away. My heart goes out to him.
October 21, 2011 1:16 AM
Anonymous said...
As a autism consultant, this disgusts me. THIS is why I fight the obsessive movement to "track" us, to "track" MY PEOPLE, like we're rabid dogs waiting to be put down! How many other kids, just because they're on the spectrum, got shipped off to torture facilities on their parents' dime, with the parents getting away with it by playing the autism card?! Even if Cameron's the only victim of this bullshit, that's too many.
October 21, 2011 12:30 PM
Anonymous said...
I don't think he came to The Abbey for "help." He ordered a fucking vodka orange juice. When questioned by the manager he ran. He ran far! Not exactly looking for help. David is always one to try to get press for anything. Like when Liz Taylor died. David you NEVER KNEW LIZ! Stop the candlelit ceremonies!
October 22, 2011 6:21 PM
Xelebes:
Thread on WrongPlanet.net
Ursus:
--- Quote from: "cmack" ---A teen boy, either 14 or 15 years old, fled a CA airport because he didn't want to return to an unnamed Utah boarding school. He is described in news reports as being autistic with high-functioning Asperger's syndrome. Mainstream news reports give scant details, but a West Hollywood blog gives a much more detailed account and says the boy had been sent away because he is gay.
--- End quote ---
Ouch. Does anyone know which program this was/is?
cmack:
--- Quote from: "Ursus" ---Ouch. Does anyone know which program this was/is?
--- End quote ---
According to the comment posted below from the huffingtonpost he was being sent to Cross Creek, but I don't know what her source was. I haven't seen it stated in any news accounts. I think the poster may have thought it was Cross Creek because of the story told at the link posted at the bottom of my first post above, which I found at the end of the West Hollywood Blog story.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/2 ... 21996.html
THIS IS THE HUFFINGTONPOST STROY WITH SOME READER COMMENTS BELOW:
The search for a 14 year-old boy who went missing in Burbank ended after he was spotted at a popular gay bar in West Hollywood.
Smith went missing Wednesday morning from Bob Hope Airport in Burbank after his parents dropped him off and watched him board a SkyWest Airlines flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. The teen, who has autism, attends a specialized school in Salt Lake City, according to The Burbank Leader.
His commuter flight had returned to the gate after boarding due to undisclosed mechanical issues, at which point the passengers deplaned. Smith's parents were unaware of this, and since they did not pay an unaccompanied minor fee, lied about his age and did not reveal that Smith suffered from autism, no one on the flight crew was assigned to monitor him, reports ABC News.
Once Smith had exited the airport, KTLA reports that he borrowed money from strangers to take an MTA bus to Hollywood.
The teen was later found outside of Pizza Rustica on the 8900 block of Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, after being spotted at The Abbey by someone who recognized him from news reports. The teen was trying to order a vodka and orange juice from manager Nick Lambert, who then reported his location to the authorities, reports KTLA.
Originally thought to be unintentional, it turns out Smith was attempting to run away. "He did not want to go back to the school he was at, and this was an opportunity for him," Burbank police Sgt. Darin Ryburn told KTLA.
Cameron James Smith was in "good condition" when located and "was being transported back to Burbank," reports the Associated Press.
COMMENTS
Siobhan Patricia Lynch
21 Fans
4 hours ago (9:02 PM)
He was being sent to Cross Creek - if I was being sent to Cross Creek, I would be running away too! - Cross Creek is a notoriously abusive behavior modification place that abuses kids... I was in a place very similar in NJ, called KIDS.... I spent a majority of the last few years fighting places like Cross Creek and recently helped a family get their daighter out of that hell hole (the abusive father sent the daughter there, the mother had to go through the courts and prove the place was abusive).
He knew exactly what he was doing. I also am autistic, and so is my child. Don't assume that all people with autism are stupid. I resent that notion.
Siobhan_Patricia_Lynch: He was being sent to Cross Creek - if I
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Si ... 26879.html
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sreneemoran
2 Fans
06:38 PM on 10/23/2011
The number of "Psychic "people posting here is remarkable! How almost everyone can read a short article and be "shown" his motives, his parents motives, their intentions and numerous other things is mind blowing! Do you all contact your spirit guides? Do you have "visions" ?
BTW..I lost some jewelry and was wondering if you could tell me where it is. Must be awesome to be psychic!
sreneemoran: The number of "Psychic "people posting here is remarkable! How
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/sr ... 70414.html
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
CheapTrick
Them or Us.
618 Fans
12:56 AM on 10/24/2011
Actually, most people are talking about the news that's been reported by the local news in West Hollywood... interviews with many people who were there, the bar manager and the owners of the salon where he tried to buy hair bleach to disguise himself and asked for the location of a homeless gay youth shelter.
Amazingly, you can get your news from more than one source.
The mainstream media will seldom report a story that makes the gay community look good (like this one where they gave him some juice and made sure he was safe while calling the police to report they'd found him) and instead give you JUST enough info so you can still slander us.
We're used to it.
As you were.
CheapTrick: Actually, most people are talking about the news that's been
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Ch ... 13125.html
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Nonpc1
17 Fans
04:59 PM on 10/23/2011
America is very glad that this boy is safe after all he has been through and the twisted area he wondered into. ANYTHING could have happened to the boy at that place he wandered into and his personal safty and well being was being threatened just by being around that. God bless America. In God We Trust. Thanks to the cops for saving him.
Nonpc1: America is very glad that this boy is safe after
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/No ... 58014.html
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
CheapTrick
Them or Us.
618 Fans
12:59 AM on 10/24/2011
1) he didn't "wander" there. That's way too far to walk in the time he had and it took him a few bus transfers. He went there intentionally.
2) He was a lot safer there than he'd have been at a monastery or a Church.
3) His "personal safety" was just fine. He was found and looked after by the staff who gave him juice and made sure he was ok while alerting the authorities that he'd been found.
4) The cops didn't save him. the staff of the gay restaurant did.
5) get over yourself. West Hollywood is IN America.
CheapTrick: 1) he didn't "wander" there. That's way too far to
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Ch ... 13346.html
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Lemeritus
Been there, done that, lived to tell
597 Fans
07:27 PM on 10/21/2011
And why aren't we discussing the fact that the cops took him away in hand cuffs?
Lemeritus: And why aren't we discussing the fact that the cops
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Le ... 28739.html
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sreneemoran
2 Fans
06:44 PM on 10/23/2011
It was for his own safety. He could have run, leading to the possibility of him REALLY getting hurt.
sreneemoran: It was for his own safety. He could have run,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/sr ... 71169.html
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dick thorpe
1 Fans
04:07 PM on 10/21/2011
he wanted to be away from his parents who obviously felt overwhelmed by his condition
dick_thorpe: he wanted to be away from his parents who obviously
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/di ... 95634.html
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WCWinner
21 Fans
03:35 PM on 10/21/2011
The kid may have autiism, but in this case, I think he knew EXACTLY what he was doing....
WCWinner: The kid may have autiism, but in this case, I
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/WC ... 89220.html
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ginausa
26 Fans
03:19 PM on 10/21/2011
He must be a pretty high functioning Autistic kid if he can manage to run away, find his way to Hollywood and try to get an alcoholic drink from the bar tender! Sheesh! Sounds like this kid wants to party! Actually, he's probably trying to self medicate! Obviously he hates his school and probably doesn't care much for his parent either. They lied about his age and condition and let him get on a plane by himself without being watched. The parents need to be slapped with NEGLECT charges and find out why they would allow him to travel like that! The whole thing is weird..
ginausa: He must be a pretty high functioning Autistic kid if
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gi ... 85840.html
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BiggpussJr
64 Fans
03:12 PM on 10/21/2011
So was he bullied or not?
BiggpussJr: So was he bullied or not?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Bi ... 84464.html
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
CheapTrick
Them or Us.
618 Fans
12:59 AM on 10/24/2011
Only by his parents and the school they send him away to, it seems.
CheapTrick: Only by his parents and the school they send him
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Ch ... 13372.html
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warmhrt195
29 Fans
03:04 PM on 10/21/2011
I believe the youngster is smarter than the public gives him credit for. Maybe, his parents send him away to school because they are tired of taking care of him. There's some reason behind the parents lying
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