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Indiana School Board Member Says 'Cry Me a River' Over Trans Suicides
Activists in Evansville, Ind., caught a school board member on video appearing to dismiss their concerns about safety for LGBTQ kids.
This week, ten members of the Tri-State Alliance — a social service and educational organization serving LGBTQ communities in southeastern Illinois, southwestern Indiana, and western Kentucky — attended a board meeting of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County School Corporation to ask for greater protections for queer students.
After the meeting, the activists confronted school board members, according to posts on the group’s Facebook page.
The Tri-State Alliance says board member Ann Ennis claimed there was no support on the board for addressing suicide concerns among trans students.
On a video posted to the group’s Facebook page, Tri-State Alliance President Wally Paynter can be heard calling Ennis transphobic.
Advocate
Trans Woman Sues Pharmacy for Revealing Her HIV Status
Utah school fires substitute teacher who told 5th-graders 'homosexuality is wrong'
Man Bullied for Being Open About Trans Relationship Dies By Suicide
A man who was bullied in a viral video for his relationship with a trans woman has now died by suicide.
A number of LGBTQ blogs mourned the death of Maurice Willoughby, first reported at Aazios. The 20-year-old Philadelphia man, also know as “Reese Him Daddie,” defended his relationship in a widely viewed Facebook post. There, he defended his girlfriend, Faith.
Advocate
3-Year-Old Girl Is Killed by Her Dad After Running Out to Greet Him, Then He Turns Gun on Himself
A community in Florida is mourning the death of a 3-year-old girl who was shot and killed by her father, before he turned the gun on himself.
Cherish Jackson was shot in the head by her father, Terrence Jackson, outside her Escambia County home Saturday afternoon just as he arrived to take her to the store, the Pensacola News Journal, WEAR-TV and WKRG report.
“Cherish ran out to the car crying, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” one neighbor who witnessed the event told WEAR-TV. “She was all happy to see him.”
People
Gay teen writes emotional letter to parents who won't accept him
A gay teen from Nanuet, New York, has written a heart-breaking letter to his parents who wouldn’t accept him for being who he is.
Kent Mendez, 19, tweeted a photo of the letter, in both English and Spanish, on 8 July in an act that has the entire social media website collectively crying.
In the devastating letter, Mendez explained that, with LGBTI youth rejected by their parents being more likely to consider taking their own live, he refused to ‘become another statistic.’
What happened?
Mendez left it all behind on Sunday morning. The bedroom he had lived in for years. His dog, Valentino.
But in the letter he left behind for his mother and father, he explained that while the decision was difficult, the life he had led was even more so.
‘There hasn’t been a day where I haven’t cried or struggled to find the energy to get out of bed,’ he wrote.
‘I feel trapped and manipulated every time I walk out of my room.’
Gay Star News
19-year-old Indian dies by suicide after homophobic abuse
1.8 million LGBTQ youth in America “seriously consider” suicide each year
New research has revealed worrying statistics about mental health among LGBTQ youth.
The new report from The Trevor Project, an American charity that focuses on suicide prevention for young LGBTQ people, has estimated that 1,892,000 LGBTQ people aged 13-24 in the US have “seriously considered” suicide in the past year.
Of that total number, the charity estimate that 1,199,000 LGBTQ youth aged 13-18 have seriously considered suicide in the past year, while 693,000 LGBTQ youth aged 19-24 have seriously considered suicide in the past year.
The charity also found that LGBTQ youth with at least one accepting parent were 40% less likely to report a suicide attempt int the past year.
“Suicide is an ongoing public health crisis for young people in the U.S., especially among LGBTQ youth,” said Amit Paley, the CEO and executive director of The Trevor Project.
“Better understanding the mental health experiences of LGBTQ young people is a major step in addressing their significantly higher risk for attempting suicide. Together, we can ensure that LGBTQ young people know their lives have value, and that they are heard, loved, and never alone.”
Gay Times
Mental health and suicide: The answers lies within communities
How to Calm Down Anxiety With These 8 Quick Hacks
6 Signs Your Mental Health Medication Isn’t Working For You, According To Doctors
Restaurant Defends Server Who Described Customer as ‘Fat’ and ‘Gay’ on Receipt: WATCH
Plush Daiquiri Bar and Grill, a restaurant in Houston. is defending a server who described a customer as a “fat” and “gay” on the customer’s receipt. The customer who received the receipt says he felt offended, telling KTRK: “I don’t even know her, she don’t know me. That’s like stereotyping, for her to not even know and say fat, gay and this and that.”
Towleroad
These guys found the best way to scare off a Christian Pride protestor. They kissed.
Google warns that employees will be punished if they protest at Pride
LGBTQ prom canceled for safety reasons after Christians bombard event space with threatening calls
Bullied librarian posts heartbreaking note before dying by suicide
Philadelphia's First Openly Gay Deputy Sheriff Found Dead
Dante Austin, Philadelphia's first openly gay deputy sheriff, was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
“This is a tragedy for the sheriff’s office, Deputy Austin’s family and the local LGBTQ community,” Sheriff Jewell Williams said. “We send our deepest condolences to Dante’s family, and the many colleagues and community members whose lives he touched with his limitless kindness, expansive heart, and remarkable talent.”
Vibe
Anti-LGBTQ Sentiment Is Rising Around the World
If only the greatest problem facing the LGBTQ community today were that two gay rats couldn’t get married in Alabama. For those not following the world of children’s television with great enthusiasm, the Alabama affiliate of PBS chose not to broadcast an episode of the children’s program Arthur in which Mr. Ratburn marries his longtime male friend Patrick, an aardvark chocolatier. Some people have complained that they would have difficulties explaining the content of such an episode to their children.
I agree—it could be distressing to have to explain to a child that rats are not sophisticated enough to have weddings, let alone become chocolatiers. Explaining that same-sex couples get married, however, should be a breeze. It happens every day. If your child does not understand what a wedding is, you can show them the end of nearly any Disney movie.
But the public pushback on a seemingly harmless episode of Arthur is just one instance of the discomfort that many people still feel with LGBTQ people being considered equal under law. Very recently, Trump’s Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed a rule that would allow housing that receives federal funds—such as homeless shelters—to discriminate against transgender individuals.
Bazaar
Homophobic mommy blogger apologizes to LGBT youth leader
Alabama mayor apologizes for Facebook post about killing LGBTQ community
Chris Evans says Straight Pride Parade organizers are trying to 'bury' their 'own gay thoughts by being homophobic'
CHILDLINE RECEIVED OVER 6,000 CALLS FROM YOUNG PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH GENDER AND SEXUAL IDENTITY IN 2018
YouTube Says Homophobic Harassment Targeting a Popular Host Doesn't Violate Its Policies
Gay porn star Casey Jacks dies at 29 years old
Gay porn star Casey Jacks has died at 29 years old.
His agent, Chris Crisco, confirmed the news on Twitter.
Many friends, colleagues and fans have responded and offered their condolences.
Crisco said: ‘It’s with a very heavy (heart) that I write this. Casey Jacks passed away yesterday. His brother just confirmed the news.
‘I will always remember his contagious smile and his amazing personality. Please pray for Casey today. I know his #choicetalent family & I will miss him dearly.’
Many friends have claimed on social media that Jacks died by suicide. This is unconfirmed.
Jacks was relatively new to the industry.
Gay Star News
The Life of Gay Teen Nigel Shelby Celebrated With Rainbow Casket
Gay Alabama teenager Nigel Shelby was laid to rest over the weekend with a celebration led by family and friends.
Attendees wore rainbow-themed clothing to the 15-year-old's funeral at a Huntsville cemetery and services were held at the Rock Family Worship Center, according to Aazios.
Advocate
Alabama sheriff’s deputy attacks LGBTQ community after gay teen dies by suicide
A sheriff’s deputy in Alabama has been placed on leave after he made anti-LGBTQ comments on social media — specifically, on a post about a teenage boy who was bullied until he killed himself, Alabama.com reported Monday.
Last weekend, a local Alabama news station shared Rocket City Pride’s Facebook post about Nigel Shelby, a 15-year-old who died by suicide after being bullied for being gay, according to Rocket City Pride. The station’s story specifically highlighted the fact that LGBTQ people face a higher risk of violence and that they often lack legal protections.
On Sunday, Madison County Deputy Jeff Graves denounced the entire LGBTQ community in a comment to that Facebook post.
“Liberty. Guns. Bible. Trump. BBQ. That’s my kind of LGBTQ movement,”
Vice
Florida Officer Fired After Footage Shows Abuse of 69-Year-Old Veteran
Protestors Demand Answers After Connecticut Police Shooting Involving Unarmed Black Couple Sitting In A Car
A 15-year-old gay bullying victim died by suicide. Now the community is rallying.
Nigel Shelby was a 15-year-old a high school student in Huntsville, Alabama. A freshman at Huntsville High School, Shelby had faced homophobic bullying from classmates – bullying that let to Shelby taking his own life.
“We were saddened to learn this morning of the death of Nigel Shelby, one of our 9th grade students,” read a statement from Aaron King, the principal of Huntsville High School. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.”
The school has provided teachers and grief counselors for students and has asked parents to also assist their children deal with the loss.
Shelby was not alone. According to the Center for Social Equity, 74% of LGBTQ youth report not feeling safe in their schools.
LGBTQ Nation
How I survived three suicide attempts as gay teen and am now getting angry
I was seven years old when I knew I was different. One day my brain pieced it all together and suddenly it hit me: ‘Wait, am I gay?’
My whole life changed forever. Things now made sense but I hated who I was becoming. I started to wonder what my parents would think. Would I lose my friends? Will society reject me? All as a 12-year-old boy.
I withdrew and would spend most of my time outside of school in my room. I stopped talking for fear people would be able to tell from the sound of my voice. I became depressed and isolated.
Now friendless, I spent my 13th birthday alone in my room feeling awful about myself. I couldn’t see a future where I could be happy again. Two days later I tried to take my life for the first time.
Nobody knew I had tried to take my life and I felt embarrassed. I didn’t know what to do, or who to talk to. Because the suicide attempt was linked to my sexuality it was impossible to seek help. After that attempt I thought life might get better but it got worse.
Gay Star News
Jack Padilla was bullied by five students before killing self: mother
A Colorado high school freshman who committed suicide in February was bullied by his schoolmates, including one who urged him to kill himself, his grief-stricken mother said this week.
Jeanine Padilla told the Denver Post that her 15-year-old son, Jack, was regularly tormented by at least five students at Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, where cops are now investigating the teen’s death.
“It’s just devastating to know he was probably so scared,” Padilla told the newspaper. “But still trying to stand up for himself.”
Jack Padilla died on Feb. 14, but relatives didn’t find out about the alleged bullying until after his death, according to his mother. She’s now calling on district officials to “expel the bullies” who contributed to her son’s suffering.
NY Post
Deion Sanders Opens Up About 'Rock Bottom' That Led to Suicide Attempt
Deion Sanders said that the lowest point of his life was the peak of his success, noting that he thinks the darkest point in his life was when he was living the high life and regularly engaging in threesomes.
On Paula Faris' Journeys of Faith podcast, Sanders said that the glitziest moments of his life were the most painful.
Complex