Leelah's Last Wish

My name is Caitlynn Taulbee and I am raising money in honor of Leelah Alcorn. She died in King Mills, Ohio on December 28th, 2014 when she walked out into traffic on I-71. Though she was born a boy, she started identifying as a girl since the age of four. At age fourteen, she learned what transgender meant, and finally felt like she understood why she identified as a girl. Growing up in an extreme Christian household, her parents and some of her peers didn't support her and acted very negatively towards her. Her mother told her that, "God doesn't make mistakes," when she told them about being transgender. Her parents took her to Christian therapists to try and 'fix her.' All she got was people telling her that she was selfish and wrong. She was depressed because no one understood her, and at the least, wouldn't call her by her name or identify her as a female. At sixteen, she was told she was not allowed to start her transition. Her parents locked her away from the world; took her out of public school, took away her laptop and phone, and forbid her from getting on social media. She was completely alone for five months. Though she slowly got everything back, she realized her friends weren't there for her anymore. She died because of her parents and those around her. She died because of ignorance. How many more have to die before everyone is seen as an equal and not judged, or told they're wrong, when they're just being who they are? What Leelah wants is for her things to be sold and the money she has in the  bank to be given to the trans civil rights movement and to support groups, but I highly doubt her parents would respect her last wishes, when even in death, they still refer to Leelah as their son. I personally feel like I've failed her. Like society has failed her. Her death wasn't just a death, it was a cry for society to be fixed so no one will have to feel as she did. I hope to raise enough money to distribute to several transgender support groups in Leelah's name, in honor of her and what she's opened to some people's eyes. I hope the world changes soon.