Leelah Alcorn

Leelah Alcorn

2012 March 22 Dan Savage 03

Candles for Leelah Alcorn

Leelah Alcorn (November 15, 1997 – December 28, 2014) was an American transgender teenager from Kings Mills, Ohio, who died by suicide. Her death attracted international attention and led to discussions about the treatment of transgender youth. Alcorn had posted a suicide note on her Tumblr blog, citing years of conversion therapy, social isolation, and her parents' refusal to acknowledge her gender identity as contributing factors to her decision to end her life. In her note, she expressed the hope that her death would lead to a conversation about discrimination, abuse, and lack of support for transgender people.

Early Life and Education

Leelah Alcorn was assigned male at birth and was given the name Joshua Ryan Alcorn. She was raised in a conservative Christian household. Alcorn came out as transgender to her parents in 2013, who refused to accept her gender identity. According to her suicide note, her parents withdrew her from school and isolated her in an attempt to force her to live as a boy.

Issues Faced

Alcorn's suicide note detailed the conversion therapy she was subjected to, a practice that attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, which is widely considered unethical and has been condemned by various psychological and medical associations. She also wrote about the lack of support from her family and the broader community.

Death and Aftermath

On December 28, 2014, Alcorn walked into oncoming traffic on the Interstate 71 highway, resulting in her death. Her suicide note, scheduled to posthumously publish on Tumblr, quickly went viral, sparking discussions on social media about transgender rights and the harmful effects of conversion therapy.

Following her death, there were vigils and tributes worldwide. The transgender community and allies called for the ban of conversion therapy for minors, leading to increased legislative efforts in some states to prohibit the practice for LGBTQ+ youth.

Legacy

Leelah Alcorn's death has had a lasting impact on the transgender rights movement. It has raised awareness about the issues faced by transgender youth, including the dangers of conversion therapy, and has led to calls for more supportive environments for transgender individuals. Her story has been cited in various campaigns against conversion therapy and in support of transgender rights.

See Also

• Transgender rights in the United States
• Conversion therapy
• LGBTQ+ youth suicide