Kaitlin Monte, Miss New York 2011

 Kaitlin Monte responds to recent suicide of 14-year-old Buffalo resident

New York — Kaitlin Monte, Miss New York 2011, has launched a petition supporting New York state legislators in their efforts to address the issue of cyberbullying.

In September,  New York state Sen. Jeffrey D. Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) joined fellow members of the Independent Democratic Conference and anti-bullying advocates to unveil legislation seeking to modernize the state’s harassment laws and crack down on the emerging cyberbullying epidemic.

The move in Albany came in response to a series of cyberbullying-related tragedies – including the recent suicide of 14-year-old Buffalo resident Jamey Rodemeyer.  

Miss Monte, whose personal platform as Miss New York is “That’s Enough! Coming Together to End Bullying,”  praised the efforts of legislators, but views the problem as too complex to be solved by laws alone.

 “I do not believe that legislation will be a complete solution,” Ms. Monte said. “ I recognize that any legislation needs to be accompanied by local efforts to develop resources, awareness and action plans.”

Ms. Monte is accompanying her petition with visits to schools, and discussions with community members and parents about ways they can help.

According to reports, young Rodemeyer was bullied online with gay slurs for more than a year before taking his own life.

 “This is exactly what I have been fighting to prevent with my platform,” Miss Monte said. “Jamey’s story has become too common in recent years and teens are still the highest percentage of all suicides in the United States.”

The petition may be found online at https://www.change.org/petitions/petition-for-new-york-cyberbullying-laws-jameys-law.

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