Middle schooler beaten & choked for wearing Pride flag to school

"I thought I might hear a slur or two, but I didn’t think I would get beat up for bringing as something as innocent as a flag to school."

By Juwan J. HolmesTuesday, June 1, 2021

Although he was already out to some of his friends, Tristen Torrez wanted to be brave and come out to his entire middle school community in a subtle, simple way before the school year ended. So last week, he wore a Pride flag to school.

The 14-year-old expected to receive some kind of backlash as a result, but what actually happened was worse than he imagined. Outside of the school’s field, he was slammed onto bleachers by one student, punched and dragged repeatedly, choked, and drenched with water — all while other students surrounded him and one recorded.