Life near Camp Pendleton is apparently lacking in support for transgender kids.
On March 3, Sage took his own life.
Sage was one of us and was one of the many LGBTQIA teens that frequents the North County LGBTQ Resource Center.
Our Center’s youth want to celebrate Sage’s life and remember his legacy of love and acceptance, and not dwell on his pain. While so many have been questioning the reason behind this tragedy, Sage was loved and respected by his family and peers and this is how his closest friends here at the Center want to remember him.
However, Sage’s story brought to our attention just how vulnerable our LGBTQIA youth really are, constantly challenged by a society that only seems to accept and impose a gender binary idea of the world.
--Max Disposti, North County LGBTQ Resource Center in Oceanside, CA
Sage was a wonderful, kind soul. He is the sweetest person I’ve ever met and I am so grateful for him every day of my life. He will not be forgotten. He will live on, through us, for the rest of our days.
Rest in peace, plant boy. We love you.
--Jasper Skye Mc
Fast Forward a month, almost to my April 3 birthday.
Taylor Alesana, 16, who had reached out to LGBTQ youth in a video last fall, committed suicide in Fallbrook on April 2.
Taylor is said to have been a constant victim of cyber-bullying and was called names at school.
You could see people stare and be rude to her.
--Patricia Martinez
There are no words to describe this.
--Disposti
Taylor said she wore headphones thrugh the hallways at school to eliminate the derogatory noise.
I walk through school [with them on] because of all the ** I'm going to get.
She felt unsafe, she felt beat up every day she needed to go to school.
--Disposti
Statement from the Center:
Just few weeks ago, our community mourned Sage-David, a dear young boy with whom we were very close. He left us hoping to create more awareness about our trans* youth and the struggle they endure every day, even when their families and environment are supportive.
This past week we lost another dear young friend Taylor Alesana.
Taylor had many friends here at the Center but the support she received was not enough to counter the very difficult time she had at Fallbrook High School. As a transgender teen she was constantly picked upon, bullied and attack by her peers. With few adults to turn to, and with no support from her school, her life became too difficult. Taylor was a beautiful and courageous girl, and all she wanted was acceptance.
Our trans* youth are the primary target of bullying, and the desperation that it causes is literally killing their hope for a better tomorrow. Kids can be cruel, but hate is a learned behavior. Schools that are not visibly supportive of our LGBTQI youth and do not take active steps to educate about gender identity and sexual orientation are inevitably fostering the homophobes and transphobes of tomorrow.
Please, let's make sure that our most recent losses are not in vain. We can do much better than this. Sage David and Taylor Alesana, we love you, and you will be missed forever.
All around the Country, our teens have been the target of hateful legislation, and discriminatory policies that have fueled hate crimes. Progress has been made but the statistics continue to be overwhelming, and violence against our LGBTQI teens is becoming a primary concern particularly among our LGBTQI youth of color. The display of hate in Indiana, Arkansas and Texas add to the problem. Our newest generation is coming out of the closet, but they are out often alone and exposed to the worst without any adult support.
Being transgender — it sucks in a lot of ways, but I’m being myself. All I need really is myself. I am there to learn and get a diploma. I’m not there to socialize.
--Taylor Alesana
Taylor did a video bio:
Statement from the School:
One of Fallbrook High School's students tragically passed away during the spring break, on Thursday, April 2.
We are attempting to honor the family's request for privacy while also helping our students and staff who have been impacted by this sad event. The district has had counselors on site to support our school community.
Fallbrook High has a continuum of appropriate services (social, emotional, academic) to ensure every student is supported and successful at Fallbrook High School. It is never easy when something like this happens, but we are working to move forward together and stronger than before."