Who is Jack Ransom from Rainbow Boys and what is their importance?

Jack Ransom is the school bully. He picks on lots of students, but reserves his true rage and violence for the gay students, particularly Nelson. Throughout the novel, there are many instances of Jack abusing Nelson, from throwing glass bottles at his head, to shoving his face in the toilet, to beating him up outside the school. Jack is a symbol for homophobia and the hatred that it breeds.