Murder and suicide take lives of many transgender people

A year ago in December, 17-year-old transgender woman Leelah Alcorn stepped in front of a truck on a highway and ended her life. The Ohio teen had timed a suicide note to post on social media after her death.

In the note, she spoke of how her conservative Christian parents denied her request for transition treatment, instead sending her to conversion therapy to convince her to accept her gender assigned at birth.

Leelah's death deeply affected Vincent Bolt, a Sudbury transgender man who's the project co-ordinator at TG Innerselves, a local support and advocacy group for transgender people.

He even wrote Leelah a letter, and shared it with those attending a local event Nov. 20 on the Trans Day of Remembrance, which remembers transgender people who have been murdered or committed suicide.

Here's part of Bolt's letter to Leelah:

“I want you to know that I love you, and I know that this is creepy coming from an old man, but I love you,” he said.

“I love you, and so do thousands more. Now you are a star, shining bright, guiding a path to the future.

“You will never have the chance to see it, but it is a future that many more will see because you have the courage to share your story, and to let the world know who you really were. Leelah Alcorn, you are my inspiration. Love, Vincent.”

Shortly after Leelah's death, in June of this year, a private member's bill was passed in Ontario, ensuring conversion therapy is no longer covered by OHIP and is banned for those under the age of 18.

The bill has a Sudbury connection. In meeting with TG Innerselves members, one member demanded MPP Cheri DiNovo, who brought forward the bill, not stop at delisting conversion therapy, and include its banning for children.

Bolt was at Queen's Park when the bill passed. It was, he said, an “extraordinary moment.”

During the Friday remembrance ceremony, the TG Innerselves flag was raised at Tom Davies Square, and Deputy Mayor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann read a proclamation for the Trans Day of Remembrance.

A vigil will also take place at Tom Davies tonight starting at 7 p.m.

There's some stark statistics surrounding murders and suicides among transgender people.

Since 2008, there's been 1,957 transgender people murdered worldwide, and 226 since January of this year alone. Most of the victims were transgender women, likely because of the prevalence of misogyny, Bolt said.

Seventy-seven per cent of trans people in Ontario seriously contemplate suicide, and 43 will attempt suicide at some point. These numbers are likely the tip of the iceberg, he said, as it's difficult to collect information on every death.

Bolt said that here in Sudbury, he's heard about instances of violence against transgender people, although always second and third hand.

But he has had friends who have died from suicide.

“Yes, it is difficult, but it is what motivates me to do what I do,” Bolt said. “If I prevent one death, then I've done my job.”

Local transgender woman Rita Olink said the Trans Day of Remembrance affects her so deeply that she can't sleep the night before.

“You feel the anguish from each person that's lost as if it's you,” she said. “We live our own hell when we watch others like us go through these terrible things because we know for the grace of God it probably would have been us.”

OLink said she gives thanks for improvements in transgender rights in Ontario, and the fact that Sudbury is a relatively safe community.

But there's still people whose minds remain narrow, she said, and therein lies danger.

“We have to watch out also for polarization,” she said.

“This is something we find taking place now as acceptance is growing. Those that are against us are becoming more worrisome, and the way they lash out because their views are not prevalent anymore.

“It's scary indeed. There's even incidents here in Sudbury. So we're redoubling our efforts to make Sudbury the safest place on earth for us.”