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Teen Crowned NC's First Trans Homecoming King Commits Suicide

Blake Brockington, a transgender 18-year-old in Charlotte, North Carolina, took his own life on Monday.

Last year, Brockington was voted the first transgender homecoming king at Charlotte's East Mecklenberg High School.

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After a difficult childhood, and rejection by his family, Brockington had hoped winning the crown would help set an example for other trans youth.

“I honestly feel like this is something I have to do,”  Brockington told Qnotes of his run for homecoming king. "I feel like if I do this, that’s one red flag for everybody to say, ‘Nobody should be scared to be themselves and everybody should have an equal opportunity to have an enjoyable high school experience.’”

Telling his family about being transgender was the hardest part of the transition. "That was single-handedly the hardest part of my trans journey," Brockington told the Charlotte Observer in January.

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"They think, ‘You’re already black, why would you want to draw more attention to yourself?’ But it’s not a decision. It is who I am. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

Brockington, who was living with foster parents while in high school, had been planning on attending the University of North Carolina.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386

h/t: Towleroad

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