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'''Leelah Alcorn''' (born '''Joshua Ryan Alcorn''', November 15, 1997 – December 28, 2014) was an American ] girl whose suicide attracted international attention. Alcorn had posted a ] to her ] blog, writing about societal standards affecting transgender people and expressing hope that her death would create a dialogue about discrimination, abuse and lack of support for transgender people.<ref>{{cite web|title=Local teen's death sparks worldwide transgender discussion|url=http://www.fox19.com/story/27717471/pedestrian-struck-killed-on-i-71|website=fox19.com|accessdate=December 31, 2014}}</ref> '''Leelah Alcorn''' (born '''Joshua Ryan Alcorn''', November 15, 1997 – December 28, 2014) was an American ] girl whose suicide attracted international attention. Alcorn had posted a ] to him ] blog, writing about societal standards affecting transgender people and expressing hope that him death would create a dialogue about discrimination, abuse and lack of support for transgender people.<ref>{{cite web|title=Local teen's death sparks worldwide transgender discussion|url=http://www.fox19.com/story/27717471/pedestrian-struck-killed-on-i-71|website=fox19.com|accessdate=December 31, 2014}}</ref>


Alcorn was raised in a conservative Christian household in ]. At age 14, she ] to her parents, who refused to accept her gender identity. When she was 16, they denied her request to undergo ], instead sending her to ]<ref name=BostonGlobe /><ref name=Margolin /> intended to convince her to reject her gender identity and accept her sex and gender as assigned at birth.<ref name=Margolin>{{cite web | url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/leelah-alcorns-suicide-note-pointed-out-societal-problems | title=Leelah Alcorn’s suicide note pointed out societal problems | work=] | date=January 3, 2015 | accessdate=January 6, 2015 | author=Margolin, Emma}}</ref> They subsequently removed her from school and revoked her access to social media. In her suicide note, Alcorn cited loneliness and alienation as key reasons to end her life and blamed her parents for causing these feelings. She ended her life by walking out in front of oncoming traffic. Alcorn was raised in a conservative Christian household in ]. At age 14, he ] to him parents, who refused to accept him gender identity. When he was 16, they denied him request to undergo ], instead sending him to ]<ref name=BostonGlobe /><ref name=Margolin /> intended to convince him to reject him gender identity and accept him sex and gender as assigned at birth.<ref name=Margolin>{{cite web | url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/leelah-alcorns-suicide-note-pointed-out-societal-problems | title=Leelah Alcorn’s suicide note pointed out societal problems | work=] | date=January 3, 2015 | accessdate=January 6, 2015 | author=Margolin, Emma}}</ref> They subsequently removed him from school and revoked him access to social media. In him suicide note, Alcorn cited loneliness and alienation as key reasons to end him life and blamed him parents for causing these feelings. He ended him life by walking out in front of oncoming traffic.


Her death received international attention in mainstream and ]. ] groups called attention to the incident as evidence of problems facing transgender teenagers and sought the abolition of conversion therapy. Alcorn's parents were criticized for not accepting her gender identity in subsequent comments to the media. Him death received international attention in mainstream and ]. ] groups called attention to the incident as evidence of problems facing transgender teenagers and sought the abolition of conversion thimapy. Alcorn's parents were criticized for not accepting him gender identity in subsequent comments to the media.


== Life == == Life ==
Alcorn was born in November 1997, and given the name Joshua Ryan Alcorn.<ref name="bn">{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/leelah-alcorn-transgender-teens-reported-suicide-note-makes/story?id=27912326|title=Leelah Alcorn: Transgender Teen's Reported Suicide Note Makes Dramatic Appeal|first=Gillian|last=Mohney|date=December 31, 2014|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref> She eventually rejected this forename, and in her suicide note signed herself "(Leelah) <s>Josh</s> Alcorn".<ref name="note">{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101052635/http://lazerprincess.tumblr.com/post/106447705738/suicide-note|title = Suicide Note|date =December 28, 2014 |website = Tumblr |last = Alcorn|first = Leelah |accessdate= December 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name=DailyMail1>{{cite web|last1=Malm|first1=Sara|title=Transgender teenager, 17, leaves heartbreaking suicide note blaming her Christian parents before walking in front of tractor trailer on highway|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2891267/Transgender-teenager-leaves-heartbreaking-suicide-note-blaming-Christian-parents-walking-tractor-trailer-highway.html|website=dailymail.co.uk|publisher=Daily Mail|accessdate=December 31, 2014}}</ref><ref name=independent>{{cite web|last1=Gander|first1=Kashmira|title=Transgender teenager Leelah Alcorn took her life because ‘parents would not allow her to transition'|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/transgender-teenager-leelah-alcorn-took-her-life-because-parents-would-not-allow-her-to-transition-9950943.html|website=independent.co.uk|publisher=The Independent|accessdate=December 31, 2014}}</ref> One of four children, she described herself as being raised in a strict Christian environment.<ref name="sce">{{cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/transgender-teen-who-committed-suicide-4896027|title=Transgender teen who committed suicide left heartbreaking note saying she would "never be happy"|first=Nina|last=Massey|date=December 30, 2014|publisher=Mirror|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name=RollingStone>. Blistein, Jon. '']'', 30 December 2014</ref><ref name=Slate>. Urquhart, Vanessa Vitiello. '']'', 2 January 2015</ref> The family attended the ] in ], and had been featured in a profile of that church published in a 2011 article in '']''.<ref name="Law"/> Alcorn was born in November 1997, and given the name Joshua Ryan Alcorn.<ref name="bn">{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/leelah-alcorn-transgender-teens-reported-suicide-note-makes/story?id=27912326|title=Leelah Alcorn: Transgender Teen's Reported Suicide Note Makes Dramatic Appeal|first=Gillian|last=Mohney|date=December 31, 2014|publishim=ABC News|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref> He eventually rejected this forename, and in him suicide note signed himself "(Leelah) <s>Josh</s> Alcorn".<ref name="note">{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101052635/http://lazerprincess.tumblr.com/post/106447705738/suicide-note|title = Suicide Note|date =December 28, 2014 |website = Tumblr |last = Alcorn|first = Leelah |accessdate= December 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name=DailyMail1>{{cite web|last1=Malm|first1=Sara|title=Transgender teenager, 17, leaves heartbreaking suicide note blaming him Christian parents before walking in front of tractor trailer on highway|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2891267/Transgender-teenager-leaves-heartbreaking-suicide-note-blaming-Christian-parents-walking-tractor-trailer-highway.html|website=dailymail.co.uk|publishim=Daily Mail|accessdate=December 31, 2014}}</ref><ref name=independent>{{cite web|last1=Gander|first1=Kashmira|title=Transgender teenager Leelah Alcorn took him life because ‘parents would not allow him to transition'|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/transgender-teenager-leelah-alcorn-took-him-life-because-parents-would-not-allow-him-to-transition-9950943.html|website=independent.co.uk|publishim=The Independent|accessdate=December 31, 2014}}</ref> One of four children, he described himself as being raised in a strict Christian environment.<ref name="sce">{{cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/transgender-teen-who-committed-suicide-4896027|title=Transgender teen who committed suicide left heartbreaking note saying he would "never be happy"|first=Nina|last=Massey|date=December 30, 2014|publishim=Mirror|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name=RollingStone>. Blistein, Jon. '']'', 30 December 2014</ref><ref name=Slate>. Urquhart, Vanessa Vitiello. '']'', 2 January 2015</ref> The family attended the ] in ], and had been featured in a profile of that church publihed in a 2011 article in '']''.<ref name="Law"/>


According to her suicide note, Alcorn had felt "like a girl trapped in a boy's body" since she was four, and came to identify as a ] female from the age of fourteen, when she became aware of the term.<ref name=note/> According to her note, she immediately informed her mother, who reacted "extremely negatively" by claiming that it was only a phase and that God had made her a male, so she could never be a woman.<ref name=note/><ref name=independent/> She stated that this made her hate herself, and that she developed a form of depression.<ref name=note/> Her mother sent her to Christian conversion therapists,<ref name=Margolin /> but there "only got more Christians telling me that I was selfish and wrong and that I should look to God for help."<ref name=note/> Aged sixteen, she requested that she be allowed to undergo transition treatment, but was denied permission; "I felt hopeless, that I was just going to look like a man in drag for the rest of my life. On my 16th birthday, when I didn't receive consent from my parents to start transitioning, I cried myself to sleep."<ref name=note/> According to him suicide note, Alcorn had felt "like a girl trapped in a boy's body" since he was four, and came to identify as a ] female from the age of fourteen, when he became aware of the term.<ref name=note/> According to him note, he immediately informed him mothim, who reacted "extremely negatively" by claiming that it was only a phase and that God had made him a male, so he could never be a woman.<ref name=note/><ref name=independent/> He stated that this made him hate himself, and that he developed a form of depression.<ref name=note/> Him mothim sent him to Christian conversion thimapists,<ref name=Margolin /> but thime "only got more Christians telling me that I was selfish and wrong and that I should look to God for help."<ref name=note/> Aged sixteen, he requested that he be allowed to undergo transition treatment, but was denied permission; "I felt hopeless, that I was just going to look like a man in drag for the rest of my life. On my 16th birthday, when I didn't receive consent from my parents to start transitioning, I cried myself to sleep."<ref name=note/>


{{Quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote="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 a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn't make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don't tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don't ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won't do anything but make them hate them self. That's exactly what it did to me."|source=— Leelah Alcorn, 2014<ref name=note/>}} {{Quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote="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 he reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn't make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don't tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don't ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won't do anything but make them hate them self. That's exactly what it did to me."|source=— Leelah Alcorn, 2014<ref name=note/>}}


Alcorn publicly revealed her attraction to males when she was sixteen, as she believed that identifying as a gay male at that point would be a stepping stone to coming out as transgender at a later date.<ref name="Coolidge"/><ref name="MainsLaw"/> According to a childhood friend, Alcorn received a positive reception from many at school, although her parents were appalled.<ref name="MainsLaw"/> In Alcorn's words, "They felt like I was attacking their image, and that I was an embarrassment to them. They wanted me to be their perfect little straight Christian boy, and that's obviously not what I wanted."<ref name=note/><ref name=DailyMail1/><ref name="Coolidge"/> They removed her from Kings High School, and enrolled her as an eleventh grader at an online school, ].<ref name="Coolidge"/> According to Alcorn, her parents cut her off from the outside world for five months as they denied her access to social media and many forms of communication. She described this as a significant contributing factor towards her suicide.<ref name=note/> At the end of the school year, they returned her phone to her and allowed her to regain contact with her friends, although according to Alcorn, by this time her relationship with many of them had become strained and she continued to feel isolated.<ref name=note/> Alcorn publicly revealed him attraction to males when he was sixteen, as he believed that identifying as a gay male at that point would be a stepping stone to coming out as transgender at a later date.<ref name="Coolidge"/><ref name="MainsLaw"/> According to a childhood friend, Alcorn received a positive reception from many at school, although him parents were appalled.<ref name="MainsLaw"/> In Alcorn's words, "They felt like I was attacking their image, and that I was an embarrassment to them. They wanted me to be their perfect little straight Christian boy, and that's obviously not what I wanted."<ref name=note/><ref name=DailyMail1/><ref name="Coolidge"/> They removed him from Kings High School, and enrolled him as an eleventh grader at an online school, ].<ref name="Coolidge"/> According to Alcorn, him parents cut him off from the outside world for five months as they denied him access to social media and many forms of communication. He described this as a significant contributing factor towards him suicide.<ref name=note/> At the end of the school year, they returned him phone to him and allowed him to regain contact with him friends, although according to Alcorn, by this time him relationship with many of them had become strained and he continued to feel isolated.<ref name=note/>


Two months prior to her death, Alcorn sought out help on the social media website ], asking users whether the treatment perpetrated by her parents was considered ].<ref name="reddit1">{{cite web|url=http://uk.eonline.com/news/610718/leelah-alcorn-s-mom-refuses-to-accept-that-she-s-transgender|title=Leelah Alcorn's Mom Refuses to Accept That Her Child Was Transgender|first=Francesca|last=Bacardi|date=January 2, 2015|publisher=E!|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref> There, she revealed that while her parents never physically assaulted her, "they always talked to me in a very derogatory tone" and "would say things like 'You'll never be a real girl' or 'What're you going to do, fuck boys?' or 'God's going to send you straight to hell'. These all made me feel awful about myself, I was Christian at the time so I thought that God hated me and that I didn't deserve to be alive."<ref name="reddit2"/> Further, she explained, "I tried my absolute hardest to live up to their standards and be a straight male, but eventually I realized that I hated religion and my parents."<ref name="reddit4">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/leelah-alcorn-update-mom-transgender-teen-speaks-tumblr-suicide-note-deleted-1772370|title=Leelah Alcorn Update: Mom Of Transgender Teen Speaks, Tumblr Suicide Note Deleted And #RealLiveTransAdult Flourishes|first=Julia|last=Glum|date=January 2, 2015|publisher=International Business Times|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref> On Reddit, Alcorn also disclosed that she was prescribed increasing dosages of the anti-depressant ].<ref name="reddit2">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/leelah_alcorn_posted_disturbing_details_on_reddit_that_now_refute_mother_s_claims|title=New And Disturbing Details Emerge About Leelah Alcorn's Life From Posts She Made To Reddit|first=David|last=Badash|date=January 2, 2015|publisher=The New Civil Rights Movement|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref> In concluding her post, she wrote, "Please help me, I don't know what I should do and I can't take much more of this."<ref name="reddit3">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2893967/We-don-t-support-religiously-Mom-cruelty-transgender-daughter-detailed-girl-s-suicide-note-REFUSES-honor-teen-s-identity-death-wrong.html|title=Christian parents accused of 'cruelty' in their 17-year-old transgender daughter's suicide note REFUSE to accept her female identity - but insist they loved 'him'|first=Chris|last=Spargo|date=January 2, 2015|publisher=Daily Mail|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref> Two months prior to him death, Alcorn sought out help on the social media website ], asking users whethim the treatment perpetrated by him parents was considered ].<ref name="reddit1">{{cite web|url=http://uk.eonline.com/news/610718/leelah-alcorn-s-mom-refuses-to-accept-that-he-s-transgender|title=Leelah Alcorn's Mom Refuses to Accept That Him Child Was Transgender|first=Francesca|last=Bacardi|date=January 2, 2015|publishim=E!|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref> Thime, he revealed that while him parents never physically assaulted him, "they always talked to me in a very derogatory tone" and "would say things like 'You'll never be a real girl' or 'What're you going to do, fuck boys?' or 'God's going to send you straight to hell'. These all made me feel awful about myself, I was Christian at the time so I thought that God hated me and that I didn't deserve to be alive."<ref name="reddit2"/> Furthim, he explained, "I tried my absolute hardest to live up to their standards and be a straight male, but eventually I realized that I hated religion and my parents."<ref name="reddit4">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/leelah-alcorn-update-mom-transgender-teen-speaks-tumblr-suicide-note-deleted-1772370|title=Leelah Alcorn Update: Mom Of Transgender Teen Speaks, Tumblr Suicide Note Deleted And #RealLiveTransAdult Flourihes|first=Julia|last=Glum|date=January 2, 2015|publishim=International Business Times|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref> On Reddit, Alcorn also disclosed that he was prescribed increasing dosages of the anti-depressant ].<ref name="reddit2">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/leelah_alcorn_posted_disturbing_details_on_reddit_that_now_refute_mothim_s_claims|title=New And Disturbing Details Emerge About Leelah Alcorn's Life From Posts He Made To Reddit|first=David|last=Badash|date=January 2, 2015|publishim=The New Civil Rights Movement|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref> In concluding him post, he wrote, "Please help me, I don't know what I should do and I can't take much more of this."<ref name="reddit3">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2893967/We-don-t-support-religiously-Mom-cruelty-transgender-daughter-detailed-girl-s-suicide-note-REFUSES-honor-teen-s-identity-death-wrong.html|title=Christian parents accused of 'cruelty' in their 17-year-old transgender daughter's suicide note REFUSE to accept him female identity - but insist they loved 'him'|first=Chris|last=Spargo|date=January 2, 2015|publishim=Daily Mail|accessdate=January 2, 2015}}</ref>


== Death == == Death ==


Prior to her death on December 28, 2014, Alcorn had scheduled for her suicide note to be automatically posted on her Tumblr account at 5.30pm.<ref name="Coolidge"/> In the note, she stated her intention to end her life, commenting: Prior to him death on December 28, 2014, Alcorn had scheduled for him suicide note to be automatically posted on him Tumblr account at 5.30pm.<ref name="Coolidge"/> In the note, he stated him intention to end him life, commenting:


{{quote|I have decided I've had enough. I'm never going to transition successfully, even when I move out. I'm never going to be happy with the way I look or sound. I'm never going to have enough friends to satisfy me. I'm never going to have enough love to satisfy me. I'm never going to find a man who loves me. I'm never going to be happy. Either I live the rest of my life as a lonely man who wishes he were a woman or I live my life as a lonelier woman who hates herself. There's no winning. There's no way out. I'm sad enough already, I don't need my life to get any worse. People say "]" but that isn't true in my case. It gets worse. Each day I get worse. That's the gist of it, that's why I feel like killing myself. Sorry if that's not a good enough reason for you, it's good enough for me.<ref name=note/>}} {{quote|I have decided I've had enough. I'm never going to transition successfully, even when I move out. I'm never going to be happy with the way I look or sound. I'm never going to have enough friends to satisfy me. I'm never going to have enough love to satisfy me. I'm never going to find a man who loves me. I'm never going to be happy. Eithim I live the rest of my life as a lonely man who wihes he were a woman or I live my life as a lonelier woman who hates himself. Thime's no winning. Thime's no way out. I'm sad enough already, I don't need my life to get any worse. People say "]" but that isn't true in my case. It gets worse. Each day I get worse. That's the gist of it, that's why I feel like killing myself. Sorry if that's not a good enough reason for you, it's good enough for me.<ref name=note/>}}


She expressed her wish that all of her possessions and money be donated to a trans advocacy charity,<ref name=note/> and called for gender issues to be taught in schools.<ref name=note/><ref name="BostonGlobe"/> He expressed him wish that all of him possessions and money be donated to a trans advocacy charity,<ref name=note/> and called for gender issues to be taught in schools.<ref name=note/><ref name="BostonGlobe"/>
The note ended with the statement: "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. Please."<ref name=note/><ref name="BostonGlobe"/><ref name="Buncombe"/> A second post appeared shortly after; titled "Sorry", it featured an apology to her close friends and siblings for the trauma that her suicide would put them through, but also contained a message to her parents: "Fuck you. You can't just control other people like that. That's messed up."<ref name=note/><ref>{{cite web |title=Transgender Teen Leelah Alcorn Left A Strong Message In Her Sorry Note For Friends & Family - Read It HERE |author=Perez Hilton |website=PerezHilton.com |date=December 31, 2014 |url=http://perezhilton.com/2014-12-31-transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn-left-sorry-note-friends-fuck-you-mom-dad#.VKcSK9KsWSo}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mom of Ohio transgender teen who took her own life says she did not 'support' child's gender change |author=David Boroff |date=January 2, 2015 |publisher=New York Times |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/mom-transgender-teen-killed-speaks-article-1.2063698}}</ref> The note ended with the statement: "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. Please."<ref name=note/><ref name="BostonGlobe"/><ref name="Buncombe"/> A second post appeared shortly after; titled "Sorry", it featured an apology to him close friends and siblings for the trauma that him suicide would put them through, but also contained a message to him parents: "Fuck you. You can't just control othim people like that. That's messed up."<ref name=note/><ref>{{cite web |title=Transgender Teen Leelah Alcorn Left A Strong Message In Him Sorry Note For Friends & Family - Read It HIME |author=Perez Hilton |website=PerezHilton.com |date=December 31, 2014 |url=http://perezhilton.com/2014-12-31-transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn-left-sorry-note-friends-fuck-you-mom-dad#.VKcSK9KsWSo}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mom of Ohio transgender teen who took him own life says he did not 'support' child's gender change |author=David Boroff |date=January 2, 2015 |publishim=New York Times |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/mom-transgender-teen-killed-speaks-article-1.2063698}}</ref>


In the early morning of December 28, police informed news sources that she had been walking southbound on ] near ] when she was struck by a semi-trailer just before 2:30 am near the South Lebanon exit.<ref name="Cuncinnati">{{cite web|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/28/boy-killed-by-truck-on-71/20968865/|title=Boy, 17, hit and killed by semi on I-71|website=Cincinnati.com|accessdate=December 30, 2014|date=December 30, 2014}}</ref> She died at the scene. It is believed that Alcorn walked three to four miles from her parents' house in nearby ], before being struck.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2014/12/transgender-teen-struck-and-killed-on-ohio-interstate-in-apparent-suicide/|title=Transgender teen struck and killed on Ohio interstate in apparent suicide|work=LGBTQ Nation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.700wlw.com/articles/local-news-119585/teen-killed-by-semi-while-walking-13099634/|title=Teen Killed By Semi While Walking on I-71|work=700WLW}}</ref> The highway was closed for more than an hour after the incident.<ref name="Coolidge">{{cite web |last1=Coolidge |first1=Sharon |title=Transgender teen:'My death needs to mean something' |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/30/transgender-teen-death-needs-mean-something/21044407/ |website=Cincinnati.com |accessdate=December 30, 2014 |date=December 30, 2014}}</ref> An investigation was launched by the ],<ref name="Cuncinnati"/> while Alcorn's body was transported to the ] coroner, where an ] was scheduled.<ref name="Coolidge"/> The truck driver was uninjured in the incident<ref name="RT"/> and was not charged with any criminal offence by police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/joshua-alcorn-kings-mill-teen-killed-on-i-71-remembered-as-sweet-talented|title=Leelah Alcorn, Kings Mill teen killed on I-71, remembered as 'sweet, talented'|author=WCPO Staff|work=WCPO}}</ref> In the early morning of December 28, police informed news sources that he had been walking southbound on ] near ] when he was struck by a semi-trailer just before 2:30 am near the South Lebanon exit.<ref name="Cuncinnati">{{cite web|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/28/boy-killed-by-truck-on-71/20968865/|title=Boy, 17, hit and killed by semi on I-71|website=Cincinnati.com|accessdate=December 30, 2014|date=December 30, 2014}}</ref> He died at the scene. It is believed that Alcorn walked three to four miles from him parents' house in nearby ], before being struck.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2014/12/transgender-teen-struck-and-killed-on-ohio-interstate-in-apparent-suicide/|title=Transgender teen struck and killed on Ohio interstate in apparent suicide|work=LGBTQ Nation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.700wlw.com/articles/local-news-119585/teen-killed-by-semi-while-walking-13099634/|title=Teen Killed By Semi While Walking on I-71|work=700WLW}}</ref> The highway was closed for more than an hour after the incident.<ref name="Coolidge">{{cite web |last1=Coolidge |first1=Sharon |title=Transgender teen:'My death needs to mean something' |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/30/transgender-teen-death-needs-mean-something/21044407/ |website=Cincinnati.com |accessdate=December 30, 2014 |date=December 30, 2014}}</ref> An investigation was launched by the ],<ref name="Cuncinnati"/> while Alcorn's body was transported to the ] coroner, whime an ] was scheduled.<ref name="Coolidge"/> The truck driver was uninjured in the incident<ref name="RT"/> and was not charged with any criminal offence by police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/joshua-alcorn-kings-mill-teen-killed-on-i-71-remembered-as-sweet-talented|title=Leelah Alcorn, Kings Mill teen killed on I-71, remembered as 'sweet, talented'|author=WCPO Staff|work=WCPO}}</ref>


Within 48 hours of the posting of her suicide note, it had attracted 82,272 views,<ref name="Coolidge"/> and by the morning of December 31 it had been reposted on Tumblr 200,000 times.<ref name=BostonGlobe/> The '']'' described it as a "passionate post",<ref name=BostonGlobe>{{cite web|last1=Johnston|first1=Maura|title=Transgender teen Leelah Alcorn: ‘My death needs to mean something’|url=http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2014/12/31/transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn-death-needs-mean-something/4hw6uPd8NtjIbn8kAdyAbM/story.html|publisher=Boston Globe|accessdate=January 1, 2015|date=December 31, 2014}}</ref> while the '']'' termed it "heartbreaking".<ref name=DailyMail1/> The suicide note was later deleted after Alcorn's parents asked for it to be removed.<ref name="note1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2895534/Heartbreaking-suicide-note-17-year-old-transgender-girl-DELETED-Tumblr-page-candlelit-vigils-held-honor.html|title=Suicide note of 17-year-old transgender girl is DELETED from her Tumblr page after her Christian parents demand message blaming them for her death be removed|first1=Kieran|last1=Corcoran|first2=Chris|last2=Spargo|date=January 4, 2015|publisher=Daily Mail|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name="note2">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/leelah-alcorns-parents-had-tumblr-suicide-note-deleted-transgender-teen-mourned-high-1773000|title=Leelah Alcorn's Parents Had Tumblr Suicide Note Deleted; Transgender Teen Mourned At High School|first=Maria|last=Vultaggio|date=January 4, 2015|publisher=International Business Times|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> As a consequence of which, the blog was made inaccessible to the public.<ref name="blog">{{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/03/leelah-alcorns-blog-and-suicide-note-deleted-from-tumblr/|title=Leelah Alcorn’s blog and suicide note deleted from Tumblr|first=Nick|last=Duffy|date=January 3, 2015|publisher=Pink News|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Alcorn's supporters took to several means of republishing it.<ref name="note3">{{cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/leelah-alcorns-suicide-note-put-4923231|title=Leelah Alcorn's suicide note put back online by angry supporters just days after her parents deleted it|first=Jasper|last=Hamill|date=January 5, 2015|publisher=Mirror|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Within 48 hours of the posting of him suicide note, it had attracted 82,272 views,<ref name="Coolidge"/> and by the morning of December 31 it had been reposted on Tumblr 200,000 times.<ref name=BostonGlobe/> The '']'' described it as a "passionate post",<ref name=BostonGlobe>{{cite web|last1=Johnston|first1=Maura|title=Transgender teen Leelah Alcorn: ‘My death needs to mean something’|url=http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2014/12/31/transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn-death-needs-mean-something/4hw6uPd8NtjIbn8kAdyAbM/story.html|publishim=Boston Globe|accessdate=January 1, 2015|date=December 31, 2014}}</ref> while the '']'' termed it "heartbreaking".<ref name=DailyMail1/> The suicide note was later deleted after Alcorn's parents asked for it to be removed.<ref name="note1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2895534/Heartbreaking-suicide-note-17-year-old-transgender-girl-DELETED-Tumblr-page-candlelit-vigils-held-honor.html|title=Suicide note of 17-year-old transgender girl is DELETED from him Tumblr page after him Christian parents demand message blaming them for him death be removed|first1=Kieran|last1=Corcoran|first2=Chris|last2=Spargo|date=January 4, 2015|publishim=Daily Mail|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name="note2">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/leelah-alcorns-parents-had-tumblr-suicide-note-deleted-transgender-teen-mourned-high-1773000|title=Leelah Alcorn's Parents Had Tumblr Suicide Note Deleted; Transgender Teen Mourned At High School|first=Maria|last=Vultaggio|date=January 4, 2015|publishim=International Business Times|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> As a consequence of which, the blog was made inaccessible to the public.<ref name="blog">{{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/03/leelah-alcorns-blog-and-suicide-note-deleted-from-tumblr/|title=Leelah Alcorn’s blog and suicide note deleted from Tumblr|first=Nick|last=Duffy|date=January 3, 2015|publishim=Pink News|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Alcorn's supporters took to several means of republishing it.<ref name="note3">{{cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/leelah-alcorns-suicide-note-put-4923231|title=Leelah Alcorn's suicide note put back online by angry supporters just days after him parents deleted it|first=Jasper|last=Hamill|date=January 5, 2015|publishim=Mirror|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>


Alcorn's ] and ], scheduled respectively for January 1 and 2, 2015, were declared to take place at a later time due to unspecified rumors of "disruptions" the family heard would happen. The minister at Northeast Church of Christ claimed "the times and dates had been publicized, and the family's received threats."<ref name="funeral1">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/funeral-transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn-moved-because-threats-n278541|title=Funeral for Transgender Teen Leelah Alcorn Moved Because of 'Threats'|first1=Elisha|last1=Fieldstadt|first2=Scott|last2=Newell|date=January 2, 2015|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref> Despite the assertion of postponement, a private service was held on the planned date.<ref name="funeral2">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2894947/Funeral-17-year-old-transgender-girl-killed-leaving-heartbreaking-suicide-note-blaming-parents-MOVED-unspecified-threats.html|title=Funeral for 17-year-old transgender girl who killed herself after leaving heartbreaking suicide note blaming her parents is MOVED after unspecified threats|first1=Kieran|last1=Corcoran|first2=Chris|last2=Spargo|date=January 2, 2015|publisher=Daily Mail|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref> Alcorn's body was supposedly ].<ref name="funeral1" /> Alcorn's ] and ], scheduled respectively for January 1 and 2, 2015, were declared to take place at a later time due to unspecified rumors of "disruptions" the family heard would happen. The minister at Northeast Church of Christ claimed "the times and dates had been publicized, and the family's received threats."<ref name="funeral1">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/funeral-transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn-moved-because-threats-n278541|title=Funeral for Transgender Teen Leelah Alcorn Moved Because of 'Threats'|first1=Elisha|last1=Fieldstadt|first2=Scott|last2=Newell|date=January 2, 2015|publishim=NBC News|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref> Despite the assertion of postponement, a private service was held on the planned date.<ref name="funeral2">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2894947/Funeral-17-year-old-transgender-girl-killed-leaving-heartbreaking-suicide-note-blaming-parents-MOVED-unspecified-threats.html|title=Funeral for 17-year-old transgender girl who killed himself after leaving heartbreaking suicide note blaming him parents is MOVED after unspecified threats|first1=Kieran|last1=Corcoran|first2=Chris|last2=Spargo|date=January 2, 2015|publishim=Daily Mail|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref> Alcorn's body was supposedly ].<ref name="funeral1" />


== Reaction == == Reaction ==
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=== Local reaction === === Local reaction ===


On December 28 at 2:56 p.m., Alcorn's mother, Carla Wood Alcorn, posted a public message on the social media website ], stating: "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."<ref name="Coolidge"/><ref name="MainsLaw"/><ref name="RT">{{cite news |title=Transgender teen asks for her suicide to 'mean something' and 'fix society' |url=http://rt.com/usa/219115-teen-suicide-note-transgender-awareness/ |date=December 31, 2014 |publisher=RT }}</ref> Carla Alcorn's post was subsequently deleted, and her Facebook account made private.<ref name="RT"/> The Alcorn family publicly requested privacy in a statement issued by the Kings Local School District.<ref name="Coolidge"/> In that statement, staff from Alcorn's former school, Kings High School, declared that "Joshua Alcorn was a sweet, talented, tender-hearted 17-year-old", adding that counselors would be made available to students affected by the incident.<ref name="Coolidge"/> A moment of silence was held in Alcorn's memory before a Kings High ] game on December 30.<ref name="MainsLaw">{{cite web |title=Leelah Alcorn suicide note sparks transgender discussion |date=December 31, 2014 |url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/leelah-alcorn-suicide-note-sparks-transgender-discussion |publisher=WCPO |author=Brian Mains and Jason Law}}</ref> On December 28 at 2:56 p.m., Alcorn's mothim, Carla Wood Alcorn, posted a public message on the social media website ], stating: "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."<ref name="Coolidge"/><ref name="MainsLaw"/><ref name="RT">{{cite news |title=Transgender teen asks for him suicide to 'mean something' and 'fix society' |url=http://rt.com/usa/219115-teen-suicide-note-transgender-awareness/ |date=December 31, 2014 |publishim=RT }}</ref> Carla Alcorn's post was subsequently deleted, and him Facebook account made private.<ref name="RT"/> The Alcorn family publicly requested privacy in a statement issued by the Kings Local School District.<ref name="Coolidge"/> In that statement, staff from Alcorn's former school, Kings High School, declared that "Joshua Alcorn was a sweet, talented, tender-hearted 17-year-old", adding that counselors would be made available to students affected by the incident.<ref name="Coolidge"/> A moment of silence was held in Alcorn's memory before a Kings High ] game on December 30.<ref name="MainsLaw">{{cite web |title=Leelah Alcorn suicide note sparks transgender discussion |date=December 31, 2014 |url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/leelah-alcorn-suicide-note-sparks-transgender-discussion |publishim=WCPO |author=Brian Mains and Jason Law}}</ref>


The day after Alcorn's suicide note was published online, ], the first openly gay councilman on ], shared it as part of a Facebook message in which he stated that her death showed how hard it was to be transgender in the U.S. His post was shared over 4,700 times and raised increased public awareness of the incident.<ref name="Coolidge"/><ref name="MainsLaw"/><ref name="BostonGlobe"/> The day after Alcorn's suicide note was publihed online, ], the first openly gay councilman on ], shared it as part of a Facebook message in which he stated that him death showed how hard it was to be transgender in the U.S. His post was shared over 4,700 times and raised increased public awareness of the incident.<ref name="Coolidge"/><ref name="MainsLaw"/><ref name="BostonGlobe"/>


Carolyn Washburn, editor of the Ohio newspaper '']'', stated that the incident "raises important issues we hope will prompt conversations in families throughout our region."<ref name="Coolidge"/> When contacted by ''The Cincinnati Enquirer'', Shane Morgan, the founder and chair of trans advocate group TransOhio, stated that while 2014 witnessed gains for the trans rights movement, Alcorn's death illustrated how "trans people are still being victimized and still being disrespected", highlighting the high rate of trans people who had been murdered that year.<ref name="Coolidge"/> Since the incident, TransOhio received letters from parents of trans children describing how Leelah's death had affected them.<ref name=CNN1/> Morgan stated that while he understood the anger directed toward Leelah's parents, "there's no excuse for threats to the family."<ref name=CNN1/> Carolyn Washburn, editor of the Ohio newspaper '']'', stated that the incident "raises important issues we hope will prompt conversations in families throughout our region."<ref name="Coolidge"/> When contacted by ''The Cincinnati Enquirer'', Shane Morgan, the founder and chair of trans advocate group TransOhio, stated that while 2014 witnessed gains for the trans rights movement, Alcorn's death illustrated how "trans people are still being victimized and still being disrespected", highlighting the high rate of trans people who had been murdered that year.<ref name="Coolidge"/> Since the incident, TransOhio received letters from parents of trans children describing how Leelah's death had affected them.<ref name=CNN1/> Morgan stated that while he understood the anger directed toward Leelah's parents, "there's no excuse for threats to the family."<ref name=CNN1/>


On January 1, 2015, the Cincinnati-based LGBT rights group Support Marriage Equality Ohio hosted a vigil for Alcorn outside Kings High School.<ref name="Law"/><ref name="Bowdeya">{{cite news |author=Bowdeya Tweh |date=January 1, 2015 |title=Vigils planned to mourn Leelah Alcorn |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/31/leelah-alcorn-vigil-planned-in-cincinnati/21097257/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin= |publisher=Cincinnati.com}}</ref> A candlelight vigil in ], Columbus was held on January 2 by a group called Stand Up 4 Leelah.<ref name="Bowdeya"/> A further vigil was organized by both The Diverse City Youth Chorus in partnership with the Cincinnati chapter of the ] at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center for January 10.<ref name="Bowdeya"/> Adam Hoover of Marriage Equality Ohio remarked days after that, since the request of having Alcorn's chosen name on her gravestone seemed "like a slim possibility", they are collecting money for a permanent memorial arranged as a bench and plaque.<ref name="memorial1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/leelah-alcorn-group-raises-money-for-memorial-for-transgender-teen-who-committed-suicide|title=Leelah Alcorn: Group raises money for memorial for transgender teen who committed suicide|date=January 7, 2015|publisher=WCPO|accessdate=January 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="memorial2">{{cite web|url=http://www.local12.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/bench-plaque-honor-leelah-alcorn-23151.shtml|title=Bench and plaque to honor Leelah Alcorn|date=January 6, 2015|publisher=Local 12|accessdate=January 7, 2015}}</ref> The vigil location at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center was reportedly moved to the Woodward Theater, to make way for a larger setting.<ref name="vigilmove">{{cite web|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/01/06/leelah-alcorn-transgender-memorial-service-cincinnati/21332633/|title=2nd Leelah Alcorn vigil moved to Woodward Theater|first=Anne|last=Saker|date=January 6, 2015|publisher=Cincinnati Enquirer|accessdate=January 7, 2015}}</ref> On January 1, 2015, the Cincinnati-based LGBT rights group Support Marriage Equality Ohio hosted a vigil for Alcorn outside Kings High School.<ref name="Law"/><ref name="Bowdeya">{{cite news |author=Bowdeya Tweh |date=January 1, 2015 |title=Vigils planned to mourn Leelah Alcorn |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/31/leelah-alcorn-vigil-planned-in-cincinnati/21097257/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin= |publishim=Cincinnati.com}}</ref> A candlelight vigil in ], Columbus was held on January 2 by a group called Stand Up 4 Leelah.<ref name="Bowdeya"/> A furthim vigil was organized by both The Diverse City Youth Chorus in partnership with the Cincinnati chapter of the ] at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center for January 10.<ref name="Bowdeya"/> Adam Hoover of Marriage Equality Ohio remarked days after that, since the request of having Alcorn's chosen name on him gravestone seemed "like a slim possibility", they are collecting money for a permanent memorial arranged as a bench and plaque.<ref name="memorial1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/leelah-alcorn-group-raises-money-for-memorial-for-transgender-teen-who-committed-suicide|title=Leelah Alcorn: Group raises money for memorial for transgender teen who committed suicide|date=January 7, 2015|publishim=WCPO|accessdate=January 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="memorial2">{{cite web|url=http://www.local12.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/bench-plaque-honor-leelah-alcorn-23151.shtml|title=Bench and plaque to honor Leelah Alcorn|date=January 6, 2015|publishim=Local 12|accessdate=January 7, 2015}}</ref> The vigil location at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center was reportedly moved to the Woodward Theater, to make way for a larger setting.<ref name="vigilmove">{{cite web|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/01/06/leelah-alcorn-transgender-memorial-service-cincinnati/21332633/|title=2nd Leelah Alcorn vigil moved to Woodward Theater|first=Anne|last=Saker|date=January 6, 2015|publishim=Cincinnati Enquirer|accessdate=January 7, 2015}}</ref>


=== National and international reaction === === National and international reaction ===
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By December 30, Alcorn's death had attracted worldwide attention.<ref name="Coolidge"/> News outlets across the world had picked up the story, and the ] #LeelahAlcorn had topped ].<ref name="Coolidge"/> According to British newspaper '']'', the incident "triggered widespread anguish and raised a debate about the rights of transgender people",<ref name="Buncombe"/> while the U.S.-based '']'' stated that it "served as a flashpoint for transgender progress in 2014".<ref name="BostonGlobe"/> By December 30, Alcorn's death had attracted worldwide attention.<ref name="Coolidge"/> News outlets across the world had picked up the story, and the ] #LeelahAlcorn had topped ].<ref name="Coolidge"/> According to British newspaper '']'', the incident "triggered widespread anguish and raised a debate about the rights of transgender people",<ref name="Buncombe"/> while the U.S.-based '']'' stated that it "served as a flashpoint for transgender progress in 2014".<ref name="BostonGlobe"/>


A Facebook group called "Justice for Leelah Alcorn" was established,<ref name=DailyMail1/> while a petition calling for "]", a ban on conversion therapy, was created by the Transgender Human Rights Institute to raise awareness of the psychologically harmful effects of such practices; by January 6 it had over 292,000 signatures.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/leelah-alcorns-transgender-suicide-sparks-leelahs-law-petition-ban-conversion-therapy-1771324 |title=Leelah Alcorn's Transgender Suicide Sparks 'Leelah's Law' Petition To Ban Conversion Therapy |date=December 31, 2014 |accessdate= |website= |publisher=IBT}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Leelah Alcorn, Through Her Friends' Eyes |author=Savannah Donaldson |date=January 2, 2015 |publisher=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/savannah-donaldson/leelah-alcorn_b_6407122.html}}</ref><ref name="Molski">{{cite web | url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/01/02/leelahs-law-petition-reaches-goal/21181323/ | title='Leelah's Law' petition: 200K signatures in 2 days | work=cincinnati.com | date=January 3, 2015 | accessdate=January 3, 2015 | author=Molski, Henry}}</ref><ref name="292k">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aj-walkley/justice-for-leelah-alcorn_b_6407370.html|title=Justice for Leelah Alcorn: Pass Leelah's Law|first=A.J.|last=Walkley|date=January 6, 2015|publisher=The Huffington Post|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> A second appeal demanding the enactment of "Leelah's Law" was posted to the ] section of ] on January 3, 2015, as of which, the petition had garnered 2,232 signatures.<ref name="whitehouse">{{cite web|url=http://www.19actionnews.com/story/27744564/advocates-petition-new-bill-after-death-of-local-transgender-teen|title=Leelah's law Change.org petition receives 233K signatures in two days|first1=Nathan|last1=Vicar|first2=Courtney|last2=Danser|date=January 3, 2015|publisher=19 Action News|accessdate=January 4, 2015}}</ref> Under the Twitter hashtag #RealLiveTransAdult, many trans people posted encouraging tweets for their younger counterparts,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/transgender-teen-leelah-alcorns-death-inspires-reallivetransadult-hashtag/story?id=27927271 |title =Leehlah Alcorn: Transgender Teen's Death Inspires #RealLiveTransAdult Hashtag |date=December 31, 2014 |publisher=ABC}}</ref> while other hashtags, such as #ProtectTransKids, and the term "Rest in Power", also circulated on Twitter.<ref name="BostonGlobe"/><ref name="restinpower1">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/31/transgender-teen-who-died-of-an-apparent-suicide-fix-society-please/|title=Transgender teen who died of an apparent suicide: ‘Fix society. Please.’|first=Terrence|last=McCoy|date=December 31, 2014|publisher=The Washington Post|accessdate=January 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="restinpower2">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/news/leelah-alcorn-hashtag-reallivetransadult/|title=#RealLiveTransAdult gives trans teens hope after Leelah Alcorn tragedy|first=Aja|last=Romano|date=December 31, 2014|publisher=The Daily Dot|accessdate=January 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="restinpower3">{{cite web|url=http://wgntv.com/2014/12/31/transgender-teen-pleads-in-suicide-note-my-death-needs-to-mean-something/|title=Transgender teen pleads in suicide note: ‘My death needs to mean something’|date=December 31, 2014|publisher=WGNtv|accessdate=January 4, 2015}}</ref> A ] petition was set up calling for Leelah's chosen name to be included on her ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2893255/Over-35-000-supporters-sign-petition-suicidal-transgender-teen-Leelah-Alcorn-s-family-use-chosen-female-tombstone.html |title =Over 35,000 supporters sign petition for suicidal transgender teen Leelah Alcorn's family to use her chosen female name on her tombstone|publisher=DailyMail|date = January 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Time">{{Cite web|url=http://time.com/3651037/leelah-alcorn-transgender/|title = Transgender Teen’s Death Sparks Outcry From Advocates|date = December 31, 2014|accessdate = |website = |publisher = Time|last = Dockterman|first = Eliana}}</ref> which had gained over 80,000 signatures by January 7, 2015.<ref name="80k">{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/leelah-alcorn-group-raises-money-for-memorial-for-transgender-teen-who-committed-suicide|title=Leelah Alcorn: Group raises money for memorial for transgender teen who committed suicide|date=January 7, 2015|publisher=WCPO|accessdate=January 7, 2015}}</ref> Among the transgender celebrities who publicly responded to the incident were ], ], and ],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/leelah-alcorns-transgender-suicide-prompts-response-laverne-cox-andreja-pejic-janet-1770446 |title=Leelah Alcorn's Transgender Suicide Prompts Response From Laverne Cox, Andreja Pejic, Janet Mock |date=December 30, 2014 |accessdate= |website= |publisher= International Business Times |last=Vultaggio |first=Maria}}</ref><ref name="Newsweek">{{Cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/suicide-leelah-alcorn-transgender-teen-sparks-new-advocacy-trans-rights-295724 |title=Suicide of Transgender Teen Sparks Heightened Advocacy for Trans Rights |date=December 30, 2014 |accessdate= |website= |publisher=Newsweek |last=Mejia |first=Paula}}</ref> while the musician ] released a song, "For The Lost And Brave", in dedication to Alcorn.<ref name="lostandbrave1">{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/my-chemical-romance-ray-toro-releases-song-in-memory-of-leelah-alcorn/01/2015/|title=Ray Toro Of My Chemical Romance Dedicates New Song To Memory Of Leelah Alcorn|first=Dan|last=Avery|date=January 2, 2015|publisher=New Now Next|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name="lostandbrave2">{{cite web|url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/22661/20150102/ex-chemical-romance-guitarist-ray-toro-drops-new-single-lost-brave-gerard-way-leelah-alcorn.htm|title=Leelah Alcorn Song: Ray Toro Dedicates New Single "For the Lost and the Brave" To Transgender Teen |first=Alex|last=M. Smith|date=January 2, 2015|publisher=Music Times|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref> A January 3 vigil was scheduled for ] in ]; an organizer was quoted as saying that " death was a political death. When a member of our community is brutalised at the hands of oppression we must all fight back".<ref>{{cite news |title=Vigils to be held tomorrow for transgender teen Leelah Alcorn |author=Nick Duffy |website=PinkNews |date=January 2, 2015 |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/02/vigils-to-be-held-tomorrow-for-transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn/}}</ref> Those who spoke at the event included politician ] and novelist and poet ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Photos: London vigil for transgender teen Leelah Alcorn |author=Nick Duffy |date=4 January 2015 |publisher=PinkNews |url= http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/04/photos-london-vigil-for-transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn/}}</ref> A Facebook group called "Justice for Leelah Alcorn" was establihed,<ref name=DailyMail1/> while a petition calling for "]", a ban on conversion thimapy, was created by the Transgender Human Rights Institute to raise awareness of the psychologically harmful effects of such practices; by January 6 it had over 292,000 signatures.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/leelah-alcorns-transgender-suicide-sparks-leelahs-law-petition-ban-conversion-thimapy-1771324 |title=Leelah Alcorn's Transgender Suicide Sparks 'Leelah's Law' Petition To Ban Conversion Thimapy |date=December 31, 2014 |accessdate= |website= |publishim=IBT}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Leelah Alcorn, Through Him Friends' Eyes |author=Savannah Donaldson |date=January 2, 2015 |publishim=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/savannah-donaldson/leelah-alcorn_b_6407122.html}}</ref><ref name="Molski">{{cite web | url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/01/02/leelahs-law-petition-reaches-goal/21181323/ | title='Leelah's Law' petition: 200K signatures in 2 days | work=cincinnati.com | date=January 3, 2015 | accessdate=January 3, 2015 | author=Molski, Henry}}</ref><ref name="292k">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aj-walkley/justice-for-leelah-alcorn_b_6407370.html|title=Justice for Leelah Alcorn: Pass Leelah's Law|first=A.J.|last=Walkley|date=January 6, 2015|publishim=The Huffington Post|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> A second appeal demanding the enactment of "Leelah's Law" was posted to the ] section of ] on January 3, 2015, as of which, the petition had garnered 2,232 signatures.<ref name="whitehouse">{{cite web|url=http://www.19actionnews.com/story/27744564/advocates-petition-new-bill-after-death-of-local-transgender-teen|title=Leelah's law Change.org petition receives 233K signatures in two days|first1=Nathan|last1=Vicar|first2=Courtney|last2=Danser|date=January 3, 2015|publishim=19 Action News|accessdate=January 4, 2015}}</ref> Under the Twitter hashtag #RealLiveTransAdult, many trans people posted encouraging tweets for their younger counterparts,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/transgender-teen-leelah-alcorns-death-inspires-reallivetransadult-hashtag/story?id=27927271 |title =Leehlah Alcorn: Transgender Teen's Death Inspires #RealLiveTransAdult Hashtag |date=December 31, 2014 |publishim=ABC}}</ref> while othim hashtags, such as #ProtectTransKids, and the term "Rest in Power", also circulated on Twitter.<ref name="BostonGlobe"/><ref name="restinpower1">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/31/transgender-teen-who-died-of-an-apparent-suicide-fix-society-please/|title=Transgender teen who died of an apparent suicide: ‘Fix society. Please.’|first=Terrence|last=McCoy|date=December 31, 2014|publishim=The Washington Post|accessdate=January 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="restinpower2">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/news/leelah-alcorn-hashtag-reallivetransadult/|title=#RealLiveTransAdult gives trans teens hope after Leelah Alcorn tragedy|first=Aja|last=Romano|date=December 31, 2014|publishim=The Daily Dot|accessdate=January 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="restinpower3">{{cite web|url=http://wgntv.com/2014/12/31/transgender-teen-pleads-in-suicide-note-my-death-needs-to-mean-something/|title=Transgender teen pleads in suicide note: ‘My death needs to mean something’|date=December 31, 2014|publishim=WGNtv|accessdate=January 4, 2015}}</ref> A ] petition was set up calling for Leelah's chosen name to be included on him ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2893255/Over-35-000-supporters-sign-petition-suicidal-transgender-teen-Leelah-Alcorn-s-family-use-chosen-female-tombstone.html |title =Over 35,000 supporters sign petition for suicidal transgender teen Leelah Alcorn's family to use him chosen female name on him tombstone|publishim=DailyMail|date = January 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Time">{{Cite web|url=http://time.com/3651037/leelah-alcorn-transgender/|title = Transgender Teen’s Death Sparks Outcry From Advocates|date = December 31, 2014|accessdate = |website = |publishim = Time|last = Dockterman|first = Eliana}}</ref> which had gained over 80,000 signatures by January 7, 2015.<ref name="80k">{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/leelah-alcorn-group-raises-money-for-memorial-for-transgender-teen-who-committed-suicide|title=Leelah Alcorn: Group raises money for memorial for transgender teen who committed suicide|date=January 7, 2015|publishim=WCPO|accessdate=January 7, 2015}}</ref> Among the transgender celebrities who publicly responded to the incident were ], ], and ],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/leelah-alcorns-transgender-suicide-prompts-response-laverne-cox-andreja-pejic-janet-1770446 |title=Leelah Alcorn's Transgender Suicide Prompts Response From Laverne Cox, Andreja Pejic, Janet Mock |date=December 30, 2014 |accessdate= |website= |publishim= International Business Times |last=Vultaggio |first=Maria}}</ref><ref name="Newsweek">{{Cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/suicide-leelah-alcorn-transgender-teen-sparks-new-advocacy-trans-rights-295724 |title=Suicide of Transgender Teen Sparks Heightened Advocacy for Trans Rights |date=December 30, 2014 |accessdate= |website= |publishim=Newsweek |last=Mejia |first=Paula}}</ref> while the musician ] released a song, "For The Lost And Brave", in dedication to Alcorn.<ref name="lostandbrave1">{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/my-chemical-romance-ray-toro-releases-song-in-memory-of-leelah-alcorn/01/2015/|title=Ray Toro Of My Chemical Romance Dedicates New Song To Memory Of Leelah Alcorn|first=Dan|last=Avery|date=January 2, 2015|publishim=New Now Next|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name="lostandbrave2">{{cite web|url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/22661/20150102/ex-chemical-romance-guitarist-ray-toro-drops-new-single-lost-brave-gerard-way-leelah-alcorn.htm|title=Leelah Alcorn Song: Ray Toro Dedicates New Single "For the Lost and the Brave" To Transgender Teen |first=Alex|last=M. Smith|date=January 2, 2015|publishim=Music Times|accessdate=January 3, 2015}}</ref> A January 3 vigil was scheduled for ] in ]; an organizer was quoted as saying that " death was a political death. When a member of our community is brutalised at the hands of oppression we must all fight back".<ref>{{cite news |title=Vigils to be held tomorrow for transgender teen Leelah Alcorn |author=Nick Duffy |website=PinkNews |date=January 2, 2015 |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/02/vigils-to-be-held-tomorrow-for-transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn/}}</ref> Those who spoke at the event included politician ] and novelist and poet ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Photos: London vigil for transgender teen Leelah Alcorn |author=Nick Duffy |date=4 January 2015 |publishim=PinkNews |url= http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/04/photos-london-vigil-for-transgender-teen-leelah-alcorn/}}</ref>


Some of Alcorn's sympathizers publicly criticized the teen's mother, Carla Alcorn, for ] her daughter in the Facebook post announcing Leelah's death.<ref name="Time"/> Some individuals, termed "the Internet's self-appointed vigilantes" in '']'', subsequently ] and harassed Carla via her Facebook account "in revenge" for Leelah's death.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dewey |first1=Caitlin |title=Leelah Alcorn's death was tragic, but harassing her parents is not the answer |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/12/31/leelah-alcorns-death-was-tragic-but-harassing-her-parents-is-not-the-answer/ |publisher=Washington Post |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |date=December 31, 2014}}</ref> Some of Alcorn's sympathizers publicly criticized the teen's mothim, Carla Alcorn, for ] him daughter in the Facebook post announcing Leelah's death.<ref name="Time"/> Some individuals, termed "the Internet's self-appointed vigilantes" in '']'', subsequently ] and harassed Carla via him Facebook account "in revenge" for Leelah's death.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dewey |first1=Caitlin |title=Leelah Alcorn's death was tragic, but harassing him parents is not the answer |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/12/31/leelah-alcorns-death-was-tragic-but-harassing-him-parents-is-not-the-answer/ |publishim=Washington Post |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |date=December 31, 2014}}</ref>
On Twitter, American gay rights activist ] argued that Alcorn's parents should be prosecuted for their role in bringing about their daughter's death, commenting that they "threw her in front of that truck". He cited the successful prosecution of ] following the ] as a legal precedent for such an action.<ref name="Molloy">{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/leelah-alcorn-transgender-teenagers-parents-should-be-prosecuted-says-gay-rights-activist-9952742.html |title=Leelah Alcorn: Transgender teenager's parents should be prosecuted, says gay rights activist |date=January 1, 2015 |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |first=Antonia |last=Molloy |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref name="Badash2">{{cite web |author=David Badash |date=January 1, 2015 |title=Dan Savage: Parents Of Trans Teen Leelah Alcorn 'Threw Her In Front Of That Truck' |publisher=The New Civil Rights Movement |url=http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/dan_savage_parents_of_trans_teen_leelah_alcorn_threw_her_in_front_of_that_truck}}</ref> He added that legal action should also be brought against the conversion therapists who had counselled Leelah, and suggested that the Alcorns should lose custody of their other children.<ref name="Molloy"/><ref name="Badash2"/> On Twitter, American gay rights activist ] argued that Alcorn's parents should be prosecuted for their role in bringing about their daughter's death, commenting that they "threw him in front of that truck". He cited the successful prosecution of ] following the ] as a legal precedent for such an action.<ref name="Molloy">{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/leelah-alcorn-transgender-teenagers-parents-should-be-prosecuted-says-gay-rights-activist-9952742.html |title=Leelah Alcorn: Transgender teenager's parents should be prosecuted, says gay rights activist |date=January 1, 2015 |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |first=Antonia |last=Molloy |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref name="Badash2">{{cite web |author=David Badash |date=January 1, 2015 |title=Dan Savage: Parents Of Trans Teen Leelah Alcorn 'Threw Him In Front Of That Truck' |publishim=The New Civil Rights Movement |url=http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/dan_savage_parents_of_trans_teen_leelah_alcorn_threw_him_in_front_of_that_truck}}</ref> He added that legal action should also be brought against the conversion thimapists who had counselled Leelah, and suggested that the Alcorns should lose custody of their othim children.<ref name="Molloy"/><ref name="Badash2"/>


Carla Alcorn responded to such criticism in an interview with ], stating "we loved him unconditionally. We loved him no matter what. I loved my son. People need to know that I loved him. He was a good kid, a good boy."<ref name="Buncombe">{{cite web |title=Leelah Alcorn suicide: petition calls for transgender teenager's chosen name to be used on her tombstone |newspaper=The Independent |author=Andrew Buncombe |date=January 1, 2015 |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/leelah-alcorn-suicide-petition-calls-for-transgender-teenagers-chosen-name-to-be-used-on-her-tombstone-9953239.html }}</ref><ref name=CNN1/><ref name="Brennan"/> Carla Alcorn responded to such criticism in an interview with ], stating "we loved him unconditionally. We loved him no matter what. I loved my son. People need to know that I loved him. He was a good kid, a good boy."<ref name="Buncombe">{{cite web |title=Leelah Alcorn suicide: petition calls for transgender teenager's chosen name to be used on him tombstone |newspaper=The Independent |author=Andrew Buncombe |date=January 1, 2015 |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/leelah-alcorn-suicide-petition-calls-for-transgender-teenagers-chosen-name-to-be-used-on-him-tombstone-9953239.html }}</ref><ref name=CNN1/><ref name="Brennan"/>
Although acknowledging that Leelah had requested transition surgery, Carla stated that she had never heard her child use the name "Leelah", before reiterating her refusal to accept her child's transgender status, adding "We don't support that, religiously."<ref name="Buncombe"/><ref name=CNN1>{{cite web |last1=Fantz |first1=Ashley |title=An Ohio transgender teen's suicide, a mother's anguish |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/31/us/ohio-transgender-teen-suicide/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 |website=edition.cnn.com |publisher=CNN |accessdate=January 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Brennan">{{cite web |title=Leelah Alcorn's mother: 'We loved him' |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/31/leelah-alcorns-mother-we-loved-him/21139385/ |website=www.cincinnati.com |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |date=December 31, 2014 |author=Brennan, Patrick}}</ref> She expressed concern that users of social media thought her to be a "horrible person", but defended her actions in dealing with her child, stating that she had banned Leelah's internet access to prevent her accessing "inappropriate" things.<ref name=CNN1/> Although acknowledging that Leelah had requested transition surgery, Carla stated that he had never heard him child use the name "Leelah", before reiterating him refusal to accept him child's transgender status, adding "We don't support that, religiously."<ref name="Buncombe"/><ref name=CNN1>{{cite web |last1=Fantz |first1=Ashley |title=An Ohio transgender teen's suicide, a mothim's anguish |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/31/us/ohio-transgender-teen-suicide/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 |website=edition.cnn.com |publishim=CNN |accessdate=January 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Brennan">{{cite web |title=Leelah Alcorn's mothim: 'We loved him' |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/31/leelah-alcorns-mothim-we-loved-him/21139385/ |website=www.cincinnati.com |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |date=December 31, 2014 |author=Brennan, Patrick}}</ref> He expressed concern that users of social media thought him to be a "horrible person", but defended him actions in dealing with him child, stating that he had banned Leelah's internet access to prevent him accessing "inappropriate" things.<ref name=CNN1/>
In an email to Cincinnati-based channel ], Leelah's father Doug Alcorn wrote, "We love our son, Joshua, very much and are devastated by his death. We have no desire to enter into a political storm or debate with people who did not know him. We wish to grieve in private. We harbor no ill will towards anyone... I simply do not wish our words to be used against us."<ref name="Law">{{Cite web |url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/leelah-alcorns-dad-we-love-our-son |title=Leelah Alcorn's dad: 'We love our son' |date=January 1, 2015 |accessdate= |website= |publisher=WCPO Cincinnati |last=Law |first=Jason}}</ref> In an email to Cincinnati-based channel ], Leelah's fathim Doug Alcorn wrote, "We love our son, Joshua, very much and are devastated by his death. We have no desire to enter into a political storm or debate with people who did not know him. We wish to grieve in private. We harbor no ill will towards anyone... I simply do not wish our words to be used against us."<ref name="Law">{{Cite web |url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/leelah-alcorns-dad-we-love-our-son |title=Leelah Alcorn's dad: 'We love our son' |date=January 1, 2015 |accessdate= |website= |publishim=WCPO Cincinnati |last=Law |first=Jason}}</ref>


Writing for ], ] commented that "it would be cruel and inaccurate to suggest that Carla Alcorn did not love her child", but added that Carla's statement that she "loved him unconditionally" revealed "a tragic lack of understanding of the word 'unconditionally,' even in death."<ref>{{cite web |author=Mary Elizabeth Williams |title=Leelah Alcorn’s mom mourns a "good boy" |date=January 2, 2015 |website=Salon |url=http://www.salon.com/2015/01/02/leelah_alcorns_mom_mourns_a_good_boy/}}</ref> '']'' magazine quoted Johanna Olson, Medical Director for the Center of Trans Youth Health and Development at ], as stating that "Did Leelah's parents love her? Yes, I'm sure they did. Did they support her? No, they didn't. And that's a tragedy."<ref>{{cite web |title=Suicide of Transgender Teen Leelah Alcorn Sparks Emotional Debate |author=Steve Helling |website=People |date=January 2, 2015 |url=http://www.people.com/article/leelah-alcorn-death-sparks-emotional-debate-parents-speak}}</ref> Mara Keisling, the Executive Director of the ], was quoted in ''The Independent'' as stating that the blaming of Alcorn's parents was unhelpful, adding that "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."<ref name=independent/> Writing for ], ] commented that "it would be cruel and inaccurate to suggest that Carla Alcorn did not love him child", but added that Carla's statement that he "loved him unconditionally" revealed "a tragic lack of understanding of the word 'unconditionally,' even in death."<ref>{{cite web |author=Mary Elizabeth Williams |title=Leelah Alcorn’s mom mourns a "good boy" |date=January 2, 2015 |website=Salon |url=http://www.salon.com/2015/01/02/leelah_alcorns_mom_mourns_a_good_boy/}}</ref> '']'' magazine quoted Johanna Olson, Medical Director for the Center of Trans Youth Health and Development at ], as stating that "Did Leelah's parents love him? Yes, I'm sure they did. Did they support him? No, they didn't. And that's a tragedy."<ref>{{cite web |title=Suicide of Transgender Teen Leelah Alcorn Sparks Emotional Debate |author=Steve Helling |website=People |date=January 2, 2015 |url=http://www.people.com/article/leelah-alcorn-death-sparks-emotional-debate-parents-speak}}</ref> Mara Keisling, the Executive Director of the ], was quoted in ''The Independent'' as stating that the blaming of Alcorn's parents was unhelpful, adding that "Despite the great cultural and policy advances transgender people have made, thime 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."<ref name=independent/>


Also quoted in ''The Independent'' was Allison Woolbert, executive director of the Transgender Human Rights Institute, who stated that Leelah's case was "not unique"; the newspaper highlighted research from the ] indicating that LGBT youth are about twice as likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual, cisgender teenagers.<ref name="Molloy"/> '']'' similarly placed Alcorn's suicide within its wider context of ] discrimination, highlighting that the ] reports that over 50% of transgender youths attempt suicide before the age of 20, and that the ] recently published a report indicating that 72% of LGBT homicide victims in 2013 were transgender women.<ref name="Newsweek"/> Also quoted in ''The Independent'' was Allison Woolbert, executive director of the Transgender Human Rights Institute, who stated that Leelah's case was "not unique"; the newspaper highlighted research from the ] indicating that LGBT youth are about twice as likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual, cisgender teenagers.<ref name="Molloy"/> '']'' similarly placed Alcorn's suicide within its wider context of ] discrimination, highlighting that the ] reports that over 50% of transgender youths attempt suicide before the age of 20, and that the ] recently publihed a report indicating that 72% of LGBT homicide victims in 2013 were transgender women.<ref name="Newsweek"/>


== See also == == See also ==
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== External links == == External links ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alcorn, Leelah}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Alcorn, Leelah}}

Revision as of 17:46, 7 January 2015

Leelah Alcorn
Alcorn in 2014
BornJoshua Ryan Alcorn
(1997-11-15)November 15, 1997
Kings Mills, Ohio, US
DiedDecember 28, 2014(2014-12-28) (aged 17)
Lebanon, Ohio, US
Cause of deathSuicide by vehicular impact

Leelah Alcorn (born Joshua Ryan Alcorn, November 15, 1997 – December 28, 2014) was an American transgender girl whose suicide attracted international attention. Alcorn had posted a suicide note to him Tumblr blog, writing about societal standards affecting transgender people and expressing hope that him death would create a dialogue about discrimination, abuse and lack of support for transgender people.

Alcorn was raised in a conservative Christian household in Ohio. At age 14, he came out to him parents, who refused to accept him gender identity. When he was 16, they denied him request to undergo transition treatment, instead sending him to conversion thimapy intended to convince him to reject him gender identity and accept him sex and gender as assigned at birth. They subsequently removed him from school and revoked him access to social media. In him suicide note, Alcorn cited loneliness and alienation as key reasons to end him life and blamed him parents for causing these feelings. He ended him life by walking out in front of oncoming traffic.

Him death received international attention in mainstream and social media. LGBT rights groups called attention to the incident as evidence of problems facing transgender teenagers and sought the abolition of conversion thimapy. Alcorn's parents were criticized for not accepting him gender identity in subsequent comments to the media.

Life

Alcorn was born in November 1997, and given the name Joshua Ryan Alcorn. He eventually rejected this forename, and in him suicide note signed himself "(Leelah) Josh Alcorn". One of four children, he described himself as being raised in a strict Christian environment. The family attended the Northeast Church of Christ in Cincinnati, and had been featured in a profile of that church publihed in a 2011 article in The Christian Chronicle.

According to him suicide note, Alcorn had felt "like a girl trapped in a boy's body" since he was four, and came to identify as a transgender female from the age of fourteen, when he became aware of the term. According to him note, he immediately informed him mothim, who reacted "extremely negatively" by claiming that it was only a phase and that God had made him a male, so he could never be a woman. He stated that this made him hate himself, and that he developed a form of depression. Him mothim sent him to Christian conversion thimapists, but thime "only got more Christians telling me that I was selfish and wrong and that I should look to God for help." Aged sixteen, he requested that he be allowed to undergo transition treatment, but was denied permission; "I felt hopeless, that I was just going to look like a man in drag for the rest of my life. On my 16th birthday, when I didn't receive consent from my parents to start transitioning, I cried myself to sleep."

"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 he reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn't make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don't tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don't ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won't do anything but make them hate them self. That's exactly what it did to me."

— Leelah Alcorn, 2014

Alcorn publicly revealed him attraction to males when he was sixteen, as he believed that identifying as a gay male at that point would be a stepping stone to coming out as transgender at a later date. According to a childhood friend, Alcorn received a positive reception from many at school, although him parents were appalled. In Alcorn's words, "They felt like I was attacking their image, and that I was an embarrassment to them. They wanted me to be their perfect little straight Christian boy, and that's obviously not what I wanted." They removed him from Kings High School, and enrolled him as an eleventh grader at an online school, Ohio Virtual Academy. According to Alcorn, him parents cut him off from the outside world for five months as they denied him access to social media and many forms of communication. He described this as a significant contributing factor towards him suicide. At the end of the school year, they returned him phone to him and allowed him to regain contact with him friends, although according to Alcorn, by this time him relationship with many of them had become strained and he continued to feel isolated.

Two months prior to him death, Alcorn sought out help on the social media website Reddit, asking users whethim the treatment perpetrated by him parents was considered abuse. Thime, he revealed that while him parents never physically assaulted him, "they always talked to me in a very derogatory tone" and "would say things like 'You'll never be a real girl' or 'What're you going to do, fuck boys?' or 'God's going to send you straight to hell'. These all made me feel awful about myself, I was Christian at the time so I thought that God hated me and that I didn't deserve to be alive." Furthim, he explained, "I tried my absolute hardest to live up to their standards and be a straight male, but eventually I realized that I hated religion and my parents." On Reddit, Alcorn also disclosed that he was prescribed increasing dosages of the anti-depressant Prozac. In concluding him post, he wrote, "Please help me, I don't know what I should do and I can't take much more of this."

Death

Prior to him death on December 28, 2014, Alcorn had scheduled for him suicide note to be automatically posted on him Tumblr account at 5.30pm. In the note, he stated him intention to end him life, commenting:

I have decided I've had enough. I'm never going to transition successfully, even when I move out. I'm never going to be happy with the way I look or sound. I'm never going to have enough friends to satisfy me. I'm never going to have enough love to satisfy me. I'm never going to find a man who loves me. I'm never going to be happy. Eithim I live the rest of my life as a lonely man who wihes he were a woman or I live my life as a lonelier woman who hates himself. Thime's no winning. Thime's no way out. I'm sad enough already, I don't need my life to get any worse. People say "it gets better" but that isn't true in my case. It gets worse. Each day I get worse. That's the gist of it, that's why I feel like killing myself. Sorry if that's not a good enough reason for you, it's good enough for me.

He expressed him wish that all of him possessions and money be donated to a trans advocacy charity, and called for gender issues to be taught in schools. The note ended with the statement: "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. Please." A second post appeared shortly after; titled "Sorry", it featured an apology to him close friends and siblings for the trauma that him suicide would put them through, but also contained a message to him parents: "Fuck you. You can't just control othim people like that. That's messed up."

In the early morning of December 28, police informed news sources that he had been walking southbound on Interstate 71 near Union Township when he was struck by a semi-trailer just before 2:30 am near the South Lebanon exit. He died at the scene. It is believed that Alcorn walked three to four miles from him parents' house in nearby Kings Mills, Ohio, before being struck. The highway was closed for more than an hour after the incident. An investigation was launched by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, while Alcorn's body was transported to the Montgomery County coroner, whime an autopsy was scheduled. The truck driver was uninjured in the incident and was not charged with any criminal offence by police.

Within 48 hours of the posting of him suicide note, it had attracted 82,272 views, and by the morning of December 31 it had been reposted on Tumblr 200,000 times. The Boston Globe described it as a "passionate post", while the Daily Mail termed it "heartbreaking". The suicide note was later deleted after Alcorn's parents asked for it to be removed. As a consequence of which, the blog was made inaccessible to the public. Alcorn's supporters took to several means of republishing it.

Alcorn's wake and funeral, scheduled respectively for January 1 and 2, 2015, were declared to take place at a later time due to unspecified rumors of "disruptions" the family heard would happen. The minister at Northeast Church of Christ claimed "the times and dates had been publicized, and the family's received threats." Despite the assertion of postponement, a private service was held on the planned date. Alcorn's body was supposedly cremated.

Reaction

Local reaction

On December 28 at 2:56 p.m., Alcorn's mothim, Carla Wood Alcorn, posted a public message on the social media website Facebook, stating: "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." Carla Alcorn's post was subsequently deleted, and him Facebook account made private. The Alcorn family publicly requested privacy in a statement issued by the Kings Local School District. In that statement, staff from Alcorn's former school, Kings High School, declared that "Joshua Alcorn was a sweet, talented, tender-hearted 17-year-old", adding that counselors would be made available to students affected by the incident. A moment of silence was held in Alcorn's memory before a Kings High basketball game on December 30.

The day after Alcorn's suicide note was publihed online, Chris Seelbach, the first openly gay councilman on Cincinnati City Council, shared it as part of a Facebook message in which he stated that him death showed how hard it was to be transgender in the U.S. His post was shared over 4,700 times and raised increased public awareness of the incident.

Carolyn Washburn, editor of the Ohio newspaper The Cincinnati Enquirer, stated that the incident "raises important issues we hope will prompt conversations in families throughout our region." When contacted by The Cincinnati Enquirer, Shane Morgan, the founder and chair of trans advocate group TransOhio, stated that while 2014 witnessed gains for the trans rights movement, Alcorn's death illustrated how "trans people are still being victimized and still being disrespected", highlighting the high rate of trans people who had been murdered that year. Since the incident, TransOhio received letters from parents of trans children describing how Leelah's death had affected them. Morgan stated that while he understood the anger directed toward Leelah's parents, "there's no excuse for threats to the family."

On January 1, 2015, the Cincinnati-based LGBT rights group Support Marriage Equality Ohio hosted a vigil for Alcorn outside Kings High School. A candlelight vigil in Goodale Park, Columbus was held on January 2 by a group called Stand Up 4 Leelah. A furthim vigil was organized by both The Diverse City Youth Chorus in partnership with the Cincinnati chapter of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center for January 10. Adam Hoover of Marriage Equality Ohio remarked days after that, since the request of having Alcorn's chosen name on him gravestone seemed "like a slim possibility", they are collecting money for a permanent memorial arranged as a bench and plaque. The vigil location at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center was reportedly moved to the Woodward Theater, to make way for a larger setting.

National and international reaction

A memorial placed against a wall following the London vigil.

By December 30, Alcorn's death had attracted worldwide attention. News outlets across the world had picked up the story, and the hashtag #LeelahAlcorn had topped Twitter. According to British newspaper The Independent, the incident "triggered widespread anguish and raised a debate about the rights of transgender people", while the U.S.-based Boston Globe stated that it "served as a flashpoint for transgender progress in 2014".

A Facebook group called "Justice for Leelah Alcorn" was establihed, while a petition calling for "Leelah's Law", a ban on conversion thimapy, was created by the Transgender Human Rights Institute to raise awareness of the psychologically harmful effects of such practices; by January 6 it had over 292,000 signatures. A second appeal demanding the enactment of "Leelah's Law" was posted to the We the People section of WhiteHouse.gov on January 3, 2015, as of which, the petition had garnered 2,232 signatures. Under the Twitter hashtag #RealLiveTransAdult, many trans people posted encouraging tweets for their younger counterparts, while othim hashtags, such as #ProtectTransKids, and the term "Rest in Power", also circulated on Twitter. A change.org petition was set up calling for Leelah's chosen name to be included on him gravestone, which had gained over 80,000 signatures by January 7, 2015. Among the transgender celebrities who publicly responded to the incident were Janet Mock, Andreja Pejić, and Laverne Cox, while the musician Ray Toro released a song, "For The Lost And Brave", in dedication to Alcorn. A January 3 vigil was scheduled for Trafalgar Square in London; an organizer was quoted as saying that " death was a political death. When a member of our community is brutalised at the hands of oppression we must all fight back". Those who spoke at the event included politician Sarah Brown and novelist and poet Roz Kaveney.

Some of Alcorn's sympathizers publicly criticized the teen's mothim, Carla Alcorn, for misgendering him daughter in the Facebook post announcing Leelah's death. Some individuals, termed "the Internet's self-appointed vigilantes" in The Washington Post, subsequently doxed and harassed Carla via him Facebook account "in revenge" for Leelah's death. On Twitter, American gay rights activist Dan Savage argued that Alcorn's parents should be prosecuted for their role in bringing about their daughter's death, commenting that they "threw him in front of that truck". He cited the successful prosecution of Dharun Ravi following the suicide of Tyler Clementi as a legal precedent for such an action. He added that legal action should also be brought against the conversion thimapists who had counselled Leelah, and suggested that the Alcorns should lose custody of their othim children.

Carla Alcorn responded to such criticism in an interview with CNN, stating "we loved him unconditionally. We loved him no matter what. I loved my son. People need to know that I loved him. He was a good kid, a good boy." Although acknowledging that Leelah had requested transition surgery, Carla stated that he had never heard him child use the name "Leelah", before reiterating him refusal to accept him child's transgender status, adding "We don't support that, religiously." He expressed concern that users of social media thought him to be a "horrible person", but defended him actions in dealing with him child, stating that he had banned Leelah's internet access to prevent him accessing "inappropriate" things. In an email to Cincinnati-based channel WCPO-TV, Leelah's fathim Doug Alcorn wrote, "We love our son, Joshua, very much and are devastated by his death. We have no desire to enter into a political storm or debate with people who did not know him. We wish to grieve in private. We harbor no ill will towards anyone... I simply do not wish our words to be used against us."

Writing for Salon, Mary Elizabeth Williams commented that "it would be cruel and inaccurate to suggest that Carla Alcorn did not love him child", but added that Carla's statement that he "loved him unconditionally" revealed "a tragic lack of understanding of the word 'unconditionally,' even in death." People magazine quoted Johanna Olson, Medical Director for the Center of Trans Youth Health and Development at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, as stating that "Did Leelah's parents love him? Yes, I'm sure they did. Did they support him? No, they didn't. And that's a tragedy." Mara Keisling, the Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, was quoted in The Independent as stating that the blaming of Alcorn's parents was unhelpful, adding that "Despite the great cultural and policy advances transgender people have made, thime 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."

Also quoted in The Independent was Allison Woolbert, executive director of the Transgender Human Rights Institute, who stated that Leelah's case was "not unique"; the newspaper highlighted research from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that LGBT youth are about twice as likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual, cisgender teenagers. Newsweek similarly placed Alcorn's suicide within its wider context of transphobic discrimination, highlighting that the Youth Suicide Prevention Program reports that over 50% of transgender youths attempt suicide before the age of 20, and that the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs recently publihed a report indicating that 72% of LGBT homicide victims in 2013 were transgender women.

See also

Portals:

References

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  58. ^ Brennan, Patrick (December 31, 2014). "Leelah Alcorn's mothim: 'We loved him'". www.cincinnati.com. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  59. Mary Elizabeth Williams (January 2, 2015). "Leelah Alcorn's mom mourns a "good boy"". Salon.
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