Human+Rights+-+Leelah+Alcorn

Name: Aliyah Burr Date: 12/19/14

Seventeen year old Leelah Alcorn took her life only a short while ago. Just days after Christmas, Leelah Alcorn left her home in Kings Mill, Ohio in the night and made her way to Interstate 71 where she stepped in front of oncoming traffic. Leelah was a transgender teenager. On her Tumblr blog she left behind her suicide note. There she touched on many topics and aspects of her life. Leelah’s parents are highly conservative Christians and were a very large part in Leelah’s decision. Her parents were not understanding, and were not supportive of her. When she came out to her school with her sexual orientation, Leelah’s parents immediately pulled her from her public school. She was stripped of all devices and access to the outside world, isolated for months. Leelah had decided that she had finally had enough. In her note she wrote, “ My death needs to be counted in the number  of transgender people who commit suicide this year.” In the article, it is stated that over 40% of Transgender attempt suicide. Leelah also wrote, “Fix society. Please.” Leelah wanted everyone to realize that what's happening in our society is so very screwed up. Her death has shaken the world and started a controversial conversation. Respond: Include your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Just tell us what you think about it. Any question? When I heard this news, I was honestly speechless. I was at a total loss of words because I couldn't believe what I was reading. After reading Leelah’s note, I realized just how big of an issue this is and is becoming within our society. Teens and adults are dying simply because they can not be who they really are. It’s a shame to think that some parents would rather risk losing their child rather than letting them become who they feel they are meant to be or letting them love who want to love. All because of a higher power that they believe in says that it’s not right. I just wish that she could be here to see the impact that she’s had not only on the LGBT community How would you have changed things or would do things differently or solved the problem. Make a connection to you, or another text, or the world. You must explain the connection. but on people everywhere. With the amount of transgenders living in the world, it would be impossible for anyone to possibly save each and every one of them that are every contemplating suicide. But the one thing that we can do, is help those that are still alive but are being held down by parents/families/PU’s. There is a petition that has been made to ban conversion therapy. Leelah was forced to go to therapy by her parents to try and “fix” her. I have signed that petition. Because of my lack of power to make any major changes in our society, that was my way of helping change things. Even if it was the smallest contribution it’s part of something much bigger that will hopefully have a strong effect on the future. I wish I could have known Leelah and told her how much she really mattered and that she wasn't the wrong one, her parents were. If only we had the power to save everyone. We can not l et her story die. Please protect trans kids and Rest In Power Leelah. http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/leelah-alcorn-suicide-note-sparks-transgender-discussion

http://forums.govteen.com/gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender-questioning-community/382621-2-stories-transgender-thoughts-comments.html