PrideSource.com – by Todd A. Heywood
Holland – The October 29 suicide of 16-year-old transgender Ian Benson has the LBGT community asking hard questions.
“As parents, this is one of our worst fears,” said Collette Beighley, Triangle Foundations West Michigan operative. “Our worst fear is that some of our kids will end up like Matthew Shepard, but sometimes we have to remember the pain is so intense that they take their own lives.”
Beighley knew Benson, and her daughter called Benson her best friend. Beighley organized a memorial vigil for Benson last week, but the questions about why Benson took his life remain. Benson was well liked and his family accepted him for who he was. In fact, his mother started a national group to support families dealing with transgender children. Something that did not exist before.