Scroll To Top
Youth

Haley Kiyoko, Laverne Cox Pay Tribute to Gay 9-Year-Old's Passing

Haley Kiyoko, Laverne Cox Pay Tribute To 9-Year-Old Lost To Homophobia

Colorado fourth-grader Jamel Myles died by suicide last week.

The story of Jamel Myles, a fourth-grader who died by suicide last week, has inspired messages of love from prominent LGBTQ people.

The 9-year-old came out to his peers at Denver's Shoemaker Elementary School earlier this month and was reportedly bullied by classmaters. The LGBTQ community is mourning his loss.

Haley Kiyoko, Ellen Page, Laverne Cox, Kehlani, and many others have paid tribute to Myles's memory.

Myles went back to school last week, and his family has implied his death was in some part a byproduct of bullying.

"Four days is all it took at school," his mother, Leia Pierce told Denver's Fox affiliate. "I could just imagine what they said to him. My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself. I'm just sad he didn't come to me. ... I'm so upset that he thought that was his option."

Other LGBTQ advocates have seen themselves within the devastating story.

If you are a trans or gender-nonconforming person considering suicide, Trans Lifeline can be reached at (877) 565-8860. LGBTQ youth (ages 24 and younger) can reach the Trevor Project Lifeline at (866) 488-7386. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 can also be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities.

Advocate Channel - The Pride StoreOut / Advocate Magazine - Fellow Travelers & Jamie Lee Curtis

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Ariel Sobel