Several days shy of the new year, a suicide note was posted on 17-year-old Leelah Alcorn’s Tumblr page. Earlier that Sunday, she walked into traffic on an Ohio highway, killing herself.
In her letter, Leelah explained how her parents’ unacceptance and lack of support for her coming out as transgender culminated in her decision to commit suicide. Additionally, she expressed that she wished her death would prompt more discussion about the startling number of transgender suicides and donated all her money and belongings to transgender civil rights movements and support groups. A copy of her full suicide letter, the original which has since been deleted upon the request of her family, can be found here. A candlelight vigil in front of the Kings High School was held and attended by several hundred people.
Preempting her suicide, Leelah made a post on Reddit several months previous, describing how her parents had reacted angrily when she revealed that she was transgender, forcing her into conversion therapy, bullying her, and later isolating her when she came out to her schoolmates as gay.
The backlash against Leelah’s parents have been in many cases unacceptably harsh and insensitive; it remains true that they are human and make mistakes. However, this one has ended in the death of their child and opens questions as to how parents should handle such situations in the future.
“… we told him that we loved him unconditionally. We loved him no matter what. I loved my son. People need to know that I loved him. He was a good kid, a good boy,” Carla, Leelah’s mother, said to CNN.
There can be no doubt that Leelah’s parents indeed did love her very much. But they did not give her the support and acceptance that she needed more than anything, and that is where the problem lies.
However, in a society that is recently becoming more understanding of the LGBTQ community, support and acceptance from strangers can go a long way. Thousands of supporters on social media have painted their ring fingernails pink today in support of Leelah and to raise awareness for the transgender community.
Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), which exist in most public schools in Calgary, are another great way to get involved. Leelah Alcorn had a vision of a society where transgenders were treated as humans and equals, and this vision should be made into reality.
Today, January 6, individuals around the world are showing their support of Leelah through the #PinkforLeelah on social media by painting their ring fingers pink in solidarity.
