Hundreds attend vigil for transgender teen
CINCINNATI — Despite the rain, wind and cold Saturday evening, friends, classmates and members of the LGBT community gathered at Kings High School to remember Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teen whose story — fueled by the suicide note she posted on social media — became a worldwide story.
"Tonight is a night for Leelah and for the community," said Jonah Yokoyama, Transition Care Services director of the Heartland Trans Wellness Group. It is described on its website as a group "dedicated to creating accessible, affirming community resources" for the LGBT community.
Yokoyama works with hundreds of transitioning individuals in his job and was encouraged by how busy they were this past week.
"We've always been in the trenches fighting this problem," Yokoyama said. "But this tragedy has really triggered a response."
On Dec. 28, just before 2:30 a.m., Alcorn, 17, was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 71 in Ohio, about 4 miles from her home in Kings Mills.
In a suicide note she scheduled to be posted on Tumblr the day after her death, she wrote, "The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren't treated the way I was, they're treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights."
Alcorn also wrote, "My death needs to mean something."
Saturday night's vigil was an opportunity for the entire LGBTQ community to gather together in the wake of a tragedy, but also to show the wide reach of the group.
Letters from as far away as Sydney were read throughout the vigil and testimonies were given by people as close as her neighbors.
Forest Hager, who dropped out of Kings High School in 2013, lived next door to Alcorn, but only saw her three times. Hager also noted that he only knew Alcorn by her birth name, Joshua Alcorn. Alcorn, a transgender female, identified herself as Leelah Alcorn in her suicide note.
"I wish I knew her better," Hager said. "She was very shy, but she wasn't really allowed to hang out with us. From how much I knew her — she was a fantastic person."
The support of the community Saturday night brought many to tears and drew some families closer together. The Crawford family was one of them.
The family's youngest child identifies herself as transgender female Zay Crawford.
"We brought her here tonight so she could see that she really has a community," said Chasilee Crawford. "I think that this is a big step in our journey."
Between 200 and 300 people gathered and listened to dozens of speakers at the vigil. Zay Crawford told the crowd that her mother, father, grandparents, brother and brother's girlfriend were all in attendance to support her. The crowd cheered.
"They are the most supportive and caring family in the world," Zay Crawford said. "I love them more than anything."
Many took the stage to speak in honor of Alcorn. Some took the time to stress the importance of community support. Everyone acknowledged that a death like Alcorn's should never happen again.
The vigil was an opportunity for the community to grieve, an show strength.
The event began and ended with organizers asking everyone to turn and "embrace someone." Every member of the crowd did, only at the end, no one had to ask.
Contributing: Sharon Coolidge, The Cincinnati Enquirer