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\"Those non-discrimination protections are critical in making sure that not just students are protected, but also that educators and administrators are protected and able to bring their whole selves to work,\" McBride said. \"When an LGBTQ person can go into a classroom and see themselves reflected ... that could not just be life-affirming, it can also be life-saving.\"

School officials in Huntsville, Nigel's hometown, said administrators and counselors \"had a close relationship with both Nigel and his mother during his time at Huntsville High School,\" but they never received reports about his being harassed.

\"They worked with Nigel to ensure that he felt at home at Huntsville High School. Those individuals are absolutely devastated by Nigel's passing and are doing everything in their power to support Nigel's mother in any way they can,\" Huntsville City Schools spokesperson Keith Ward told ABC News. \"They encourage everyone to reach out and support her during this trying and difficult time.\"

Ward said the district's code of student conduct prohibits bullying, and harassment based on identifying characteristics, such as sexual orientation, and calls for \"the most extensive punishments and interventions for the offending student.\"

\"However, Huntsville High School and Huntsville City Schools are only able to act when they receive complaints of bullying or harassment,\" Ward said. \"Nevertheless, as is customary when there is a tragedy like this, Huntsville City Schools' administration is investigating the circumstances of Nigel's time at Huntsville High School.

\"The school system will use this information to evaluate its current supports for students who have been bullied and to make changes if appropriate, he added.

Shelby, Nigel's mom, said he was receiving counseling and had recently started taking medication to help him deal with his depression. She said it was hard for him to talk about his feelings because he didn't want to bring others down.

View this post on Instagram

I would give anything for just one more hug

A post shared by ~NigelShelby (@lovelynigel) on Apr 23, 2019 at 9:52pm PDT

\"He was just a kid. But no matter what he went through, he always put his own feelings aside to make sure everybody else was OK,\" Shelby said. \"He asked me constantly, five, six, seven times a day, 'Mom, are you OK? Is there anything I can do for you?' He was just so full of love.

\"I'm truly blessed that I got to spend 15 years with this child, but it also makes me so sad to know that he's no longer with me. He was my motivation to keep going. He always kept me lifted up, so to not have that anymore is heartbreaking.\"

Shelby said Nigel loved to sing, dance and bring joy to those around him.

\"He used to always tell me, 'Mama, I'm going to be a star!' He was in theater in school, he played different instruments and loved gymnastics. He was just a performer all the way around,\" Shelby said. \"He was full of life.\"

Shelby said interest in Nigel's story caused his number of Instagram followers to skyrocket. He had more than 81,000 followers as of Monday morning, compared to about 2,000 before his death. A GoFundMe campaign created in Nigel's honor raised more than $39,000 in less than 10 days as social media users shared their own stories about contemplating suicide and enduring anti-gay bullying.

The young boy's mom said the loss of her only child is too fresh to post about, but she plans to share never-before seen images and videos to his Instagram account later on, so people can \"see his true personality.\" She doesn't want his legacy to be defined by the way he died.

\"It's amazing. He always wanted to be a celebrity. I hate that he's not actually here to see this. But I am thankful that in the end, he's out there and people know him,\" she said. \"That's always what he wanted. I wish that it hadn't come behind something so tragic. But I guess there's always a blessing in disguise.\"

If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.

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