Family Says Bullying Lead to NC Trans Teen to Commit Suicide

The family of a North Carolina transgender student says that bullying caused the young teenager to take his own life, local Charlotte, N.C., news station WSOC reports.

Ash Haffner, 16, of Union County, N.C., took his own life Thursday. His mother, April Quick, who found her son's body, is speaking out about her loss, saying that the suicide was because of years of bullying, which worsened after Haffner began to transition.

"I didn't want to believe it was her," Qucik told WSOCTV (Note: Quick used female pronouns to describe her Haffner. Haffner was transitioning from female to male.) "I just held her and told her I loved her until the ambulance came."

Quick continued: "Ash had been so strong for years. Ash started enduring the most bullying when she cut her hair short."

Haffner's mother said she supported her son's transition and that he received support from home and LGBTQ groups like Time Out Youth.

The teen's suicide mirrors Leelah Alcorn, the Ohio teen who gained national attention for her online suicide note, hoping that taking her own life would "fix society."

Quick told WOSCTV that she found Haffner's suicide note on his iPad, which read in part:

"Please be WHO YOU ARE... Do it for yourself. Do it for your happiness. That's what matters in YOUR life. You don't need approval on who you are. Don't let people or society change who you are just because they're not satisfied with your image."

A memorial service was held for Haffner last Friday outside Porter Ridge High School, where Haffner was as student. Friends remembered the teen and his message.

"We have counselors and we've already reached out to school officials, the GSA [advisor] and the principal at the school," Time Out Youth's executive director, Rodney Tucker, told LGBTQ Nation. He added that a counselor at the school will also be on hand.

According to Gay Star News, Haffner is the fourth transgender teen to commit suicide in the U.S. this year.