A transgender teen
committed suicide and left a devastating note
on Tumblr after her Christian parents refused to acknowledge that she’s a girl.
Leelah Alcorn was born Joshua Alcorn in Kings Mill, Ohio. She killed herself by
stepping in front of a tractor-trailer on I-71 in Warren County, Ohio, in the
early morning hours of December 28.
In the letter
Leelah from Kings Mill, Ohio, wrote that although she was born a boy, she began
identifying as a girl at the age of four.
The note begins:
"If you are reading this, it means that I have committed suicide and
obviously failed to delete this post from my queue.”
Leelah also spoke
about growing up with strict devout Christian parents who did not understand
her and had not allowed her to transition when she turned 16.
"When I was
14, I learned what transgender meant and cried of happiness. After 10 years of
confusion I finally understood who I was.
"I
immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that
it was that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn’t make mistakes, that
I am wrong,” said the letter.
Transgender is the state of one's gender
identity or gender expression not matching one's assigned
sex.[1]
Transgender is independent of sexual orientation; transgender people may
identify as heterosexual, homosexual,
bisexual,
etc.
Alcorn's mother,
Carla Wood Alcorn, wrote on Facebook Sunday, "My sweet 16-year-old son,
Joshua Ryan Alcorn, went home to Heaven this morning. He was out for an early
morning walk and was hit by a truck. Thank you for the messages and kindness
and concern you have sent our way. Please continue to keep us in your
prayers." The post has since been taken down.
The parents
The community
relations coordinator for the local school district, also referring to Alcorn
as a male, said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Joshua’s family and friends
at this tragic time.” An obituary tribute on the school
website (seen above) referred to Leelah as a beloved “son and brother.”
Local media in Ohio, likewise, have referred to Alcoron almost exclusively as
“Joshua” and as a male.
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