Trans teen commits suicide due to transphobic parents

Read the full story here.

As far as I'm concerned, Leelah's parents are guilty of neglect and child abuse resulting in death, but I'm sure that they won't be convicted due to the ludicrous notion that a parent's right to religious freedom gives them the right to belittle and brainwash their children.

Her tumblr, which contained her suicide note, has been taken down, most likely because her mother was trying to have it taken down, which I would like to note is completely despicable effort to silence her daughter's final words in order to protect her image. Here's a screenshot of it. Bite me, Carla Alcorn. Leelah wanted the world to hear her and for her death to mean something.

In addition, we cannot just ignore the role that religion played in this. Yes, not all christians are transphobes, but this suicide is very much due to the crazy fundamentalist version of christianity that has enshrined discrimination against LGBT people in its tenets. Religion is one of the few things that can turn parents against their children like this.

The entire world needs to be angry about this. Rest in power, Leelah.

 

Her mom was a clear bigot, but like a broken clock right twice a day, was absolutely right to deny her that surgery.

One in five people who go through with gender reassignment end up regretting it, and around 40% end up trying to commit suicide.

There is absolutely zero chance that she had the maturity enough to make a decision of that gravity. Especially since we know that she had no problem potentially ruining another persons life (the truck driver) to achieve her own selfish goals.

So while I agree that her mom was a bigot, and that hatred towards trans people needs to stop, I really don't understand why she is being presented as some sort of martyr. There are many better choices out there, people who underwent the same or worse treatment, but chose to be honorable about their death instead of dragging in some other person. She died selfishly, and my sympathy is pretty limited given those facts.

 

Perhaps your right about the surgery, but if they had been supportive in other ways, If they did not treat her like a freak, and took her to a legitimate therapist instead of ones who preached the gospel to her, this might not have happened.

 

Agreed. It never should have been allowed to get this far. With some proper guidance she could have been put on the path towards gender reassignment and potentially even happiness. Were it my kid, I'd have told her that I support and respect any decision she made about it, but I'd want to be absolutely certain she understood exactly what she was doing.

 

She was denied permission to transition, which is to begin living as a woman, not surgery. Transitioning doesn't always involve surgery.

In addition, I think you should rethink your judgement about her death. She wasn't in the best state of mind and I understand that people don't always think clearly and make good decisions when they're making immediate plans to die. Most people that die this way find it difficult to do it any other way, so out of sheer desperation they choose to end their lives with the only means they can manage.

 

May her soul rest in peace. May whatever god she believe in look after her soul.

 

That's a good point.

Everyone has access to a knife. More painful, but at least its you going through it, not some poor guy in a truck.

 

First of all, hello, I just joined.

One of my best friends is mtf trans and she's having the same issue transitioning (mostly acceptance from her mother and sister, her father seems okay with it). When she went to the Day program I used to work at we were told to call her Andrew instead of Mary and use male pronouns but I refused because she was more comfortable if we called her Mary. So this hit me kinda personally since I KNOW someone like that and I can't imagine not accepting her.

What gets me mad about this story is that Leelah's parents are STILL misgendering her and they buried her in a suit. If they loved her as unconditionally as they say they did they would have accepted her and not forced her to be something she's not.

 

Welcome aboard. A voce of reason!!

 

I will never understand why people think they need to tell others how to handle somebody that isn't them. If I want to call a person by their preferred name or pronoun, I'm going to.

Some people really need to get lives.

 

This is an extremely sad and wholly preventable case. I do think that if the parents had only known that their child was seriously contemplating suicide, I think they may have changed their approach... but it should not take the threat of your child wanting to end his or her life for a parent to see how serious this thing is. Put your "pride", your "shame" and even your faith aside for a second. Think about your ****ing kid FFS.

I read that nearly 50% of transgender people have attempted suicide at some point. Leelah's death should not be in vain - it should be a message to parents in similar situations all over the world. Don't kill your child with your ignorance and selfishness.

 

Really? Unconditional love?? Unconditional unless your child does not turn out to be exactly what you think that they should be.

 

......

 

I want this law to go through so badly, it would help all LGBTQ people so much. I'm bi myself and even though I'm not out to my Dad or uncle I've come out to friends and all of them have been supportive.

 

Is outright calling PF member Amazing Sam's Ego an "idiot" one of those gay rights you guys fight for ?

Or just something you childishly resort to ?

 

Actually... the suicide is due solely to the mental instability of this confused boy.


Why is the left always looking to blame others ?!

 

Why are you looking to turn this into a political issue? Itseems like every hypocrite progressive that calls themselves conservative such as yourself attempts to blame the "left" for things. Who the (*)(*)(*)(*) cares about that partisan (*)(*)(*)(*)?

Yes the suicide is due to the mental instability of the person that committed suicide. But to say her parents hands are clean is not just myopic but ignorant. Why didn't they do anything to get her help?

If she was dying of the flu and they didn't take her to the doctor they should be locked up.

 

You should tell the OP, not me.

Common sense has already told me this.

 

Nice misrepresentation of my post. Seems the only way you can argue is to make strawman fallacies. How progressive of you.

 

I'm not arguing.

Convincing you of anything is of no interest to me.

So.... there is no need to type any further cuss-filled rants to me.

 

Why in the hell are you in a discussion sight?

Do you need a new hobby?

 

So what is this?

Sure seems like an argument to me. So now you are dishonest and in need of a hobby.

 

I know, convincing yourself is the goal.

 

on that we agree

he was mentally unstable and mom did what she thought was best. Who knows, if he went to a leftist shrink he might have had other harmful stuff pushed his way as well.

As I've openly stated, we lost a family member to suicide

It's not pretty and tears apart those left behind. If only we visited more. If we had called that day. If x or y had caught "the signs" etc etc

Life moves on but I assure you, every loved one carries guilt with them for the rest of our lives. We all feel that we could have done more.

Sure, there is sadness, guilt, then anger, then sadness again. The guilt never goes away despite whether or not it's justified

What we don't need are sanctimonious people trying to shift blame

Suicide is as selfish as it gets. That took us a long time to accept.

In the case of this story, it was on this boy. The "suicide note" reads like any other angry teenager mad at their evil parents.

With a 41% attempted suicide rate, it sure makes sense to commit those claiming to be "gender confused" and place them under observation.

Then, maybe let them meet some kids who have been mutilated by jihadists, or soldiers who lost limbs.

Then, ask them if their "problem" is really so big after all.

 

The parents did what they thought was best for their mentally impaired child.
If the parents forced him into counseling because the kid jumped off bridges thinking he could fly, everyone would be fine with it.

Unless, of course, the counselor was Christian.


The boy said his parents and his friends didn't like him, so I'd say this likely has a lot to do with him. Not them.

Blaming anyone but the victim for their suicide is foolish.