Tyler Wilson, 11, joined the Flag City Youth Cheerleading Squad in June after seeing the gymnastics and tumbling at his sister's practice. His mom doesn't have a problem with it. But the sixth grader at Glenwood Middle School says some boys at school do. Tyler says, "It feels horrible that they can't accept me for who I am. It's my choice. If I want to be a cheerleader, I'm going to be a cheerleader."
He says the problems began at the beginning of the school year, but reached a breaking point about three weeks ago. Tyler says, one day after school, two boys started a series of fights with him as he tried to walk home. It ended, according to Tyler, with one of the boys breaking his arm. Kristy says, "I kind of expected the normal teasing. I figured there might be a fight. I figured a black-eye, bloody lip. Boys will be boys. But my child is broken. And that's the part that hurts."
Tyler's mom says she is pleased with how the school responded, but she says they can't do much in terms of discipline because the fight happened off school property. However, Tyler's mom did file a police report. "I want the criminal charges because I want this kid to know it's not okay," says Kristy.
13abc spoke with the mother of the boy who allegedly beat up Tyler, breaking his arm. She said, "No comment."
Meanwhile, Tyler is getting support from male cheerleaders from all over the region. He says he won't quit. "I'm going to keep going. I'm going to make a lifestyle out of it," says Tyler.
13abc left voicemails with the school principal and the prosecutor's office. They have not yet returned our calls for comment.
