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| Transgender teenager Leelah Alcorn took her life because ‘parents would not allow her to transition’ | Transgender teenager Leelah Alcorn took her life because ‘parents would not allow her to transition’ |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A transgender teenager used her suicide note to claim she ended her life because her hardline Christian parents would not allow her to transition medically, and urged society to treat transgender people “like humans”. | A transgender teenager used her suicide note to claim she ended her life because her hardline Christian parents would not allow her to transition medically, and urged society to treat transgender people “like humans”. |
| Leelah Alcorn, 17, died a few miles from her family home in Ohio, after she was hit by a tractor-trailer just before 2:30am of Sunday morning. The incident occurred on the southbound Interstate 71 in Union Township in Warren County, and is being investigated by Ohio State Highway. | Leelah Alcorn, 17, died a few miles from her family home in Ohio, after she was hit by a tractor-trailer just before 2:30am of Sunday morning. The incident occurred on the southbound Interstate 71 in Union Township in Warren County, and is being investigated by Ohio State Highway. |
| Police reports confirmed the teenager had died, but identified her by using her birth name Joshua Alcorn, which has also been widely used by local media. | |
| Before the Kings School student took her life, she scheduled a suicide note to appear on her Tumblr page hours after her death. | Before the Kings School student took her life, she scheduled a suicide note to appear on her Tumblr page hours after her death. |
| In the post entitled ‘suicide note’, Alcorn stated she was transgender and felt “like a girl trapped in a boy’s body” since she was four-years-old. | In the post entitled ‘suicide note’, Alcorn stated she was transgender and felt “like a girl trapped in a boy’s body” since she was four-years-old. |
| However, she added she did not tell anyone because she was not aware of the term "transgender", or that it was "possible for a boy to become a girl". She wrote that aged 14 she discovered she could change her gender, and “cried of happiness.” | However, she added she did not tell anyone because she was not aware of the term "transgender", or that it was "possible for a boy to become a girl". She wrote that aged 14 she discovered she could change her gender, and “cried of happiness.” |
| “After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was,” said Alcorn. | “After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was,” said Alcorn. |
| Leelah Alcorn in a photo she posted on her Tumblr page But Alcorn claimed that when she came out to her mother as transgender, she responded by arguing that “God doesn’t make mistakes” and that her daughter was wrong. | Leelah Alcorn in a photo she posted on her Tumblr page But Alcorn claimed that when she came out to her mother as transgender, she responded by arguing that “God doesn’t make mistakes” and that her daughter was wrong. |
| The teen then begged other parents not to respond in this way, and said her mother’s words filled her with self-loathing. | The teen then begged other parents not to respond in this way, and said her mother’s words filled her with self-loathing. |
| Alcorn went on to reveal that when her parents did not give her permission to medically transition into a female, she hit rock bottom. | Alcorn went on to reveal that when her parents did not give her permission to medically transition into a female, she hit rock bottom. |
| The teenager ended the note by asking for her belongings and savings to be donated to the trans rights movement. Kings School student Leelah Alcorn “The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights.” | The teenager ended the note by asking for her belongings and savings to be donated to the trans rights movement. Kings School student Leelah Alcorn “The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights.” |
| “Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say “that’s fucked up” and fix it. Fix society,” she wrote. | “Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say “that’s fucked up” and fix it. Fix society,” she wrote. |
| Before posting her suicide note, Alcorn re-blogged another user’s post in solidarity with those who have experienced suicide ideation. | |
| “Me and thousands of other people are. You are amazing, strong, and definitely made the right choice. Please make the right choice next year, and in all the years to come as well,” it read. | “Me and thousands of other people are. You are amazing, strong, and definitely made the right choice. Please make the right choice next year, and in all the years to come as well,” it read. |
| Alcorn's mother posted a tribute to her daughter on her Facebook page on Sunday night, using her son's birth name. | Alcorn's mother posted a tribute to her daughter on her Facebook page on Sunday night, using her son's birth name. |
| Leelah Alcorn poses in a dressing room "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," she wrote, WCPO reported. | Leelah Alcorn poses in a dressing room "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," she wrote, WCPO reported. |
| Mara Keisling, Executive Director National centre for the Transgender Equality told The Independent that as suicide is rarely so simple that blame can be assigned, pointing the finger at Alcorn’s parents is unhelpful, and would not have helped the teenager. | Mara Keisling, Executive Director National centre for the Transgender Equality told The Independent that as suicide is rarely so simple that blame can be assigned, pointing the finger at Alcorn’s parents is unhelpful, and would not have helped the teenager. |
| She went on to describe how loneliness and hopelessness faced by transgender people can be overwhelming. | She went on to describe how loneliness and hopelessness faced by transgender people can be overwhelming. |
| “Despite the great cultural and policy advances, transgender people have made, there is still a lot of disrespect, discrimination and violence aimed at us. And being a child or a teenager of any kind today is very difficult.” | “Despite the great cultural and policy advances, transgender people have made, there is still a lot of disrespect, discrimination and violence aimed at us. And being a child or a teenager of any kind today is very difficult.” |
| People can help to prevent similar tragedies by believing those who identify as transgender, she said. | People can help to prevent similar tragedies by believing those who identify as transgender, she said. |
| Ms Keisling added that parents who want to learn from and hear from other parents should visit PFLAG. | Ms Keisling added that parents who want to learn from and hear from other parents should visit PFLAG. |
| The King's district has placed counselors on call for anyone needing to speak about Alcorn's death. Those with concerns can call: 513-398-8050 at either extension 11001 or 11000. | The King's district has placed counselors on call for anyone needing to speak about Alcorn's death. Those with concerns can call: 513-398-8050 at either extension 11001 or 11000. |
| Anyone who has been affected by the news in the UK can call the Samaritans on 08457 909090 or email jo@samaritans.org for confidential help and support. | Anyone who has been affected by the news in the UK can call the Samaritans on 08457 909090 or email jo@samaritans.org for confidential help and support. |
| For confidential support in the US call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Transgender Lifeline on +187 756 588 60. | For confidential support in the US call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Transgender Lifeline on +187 756 588 60. |