After Transgender Teen Suicide, Celebrities Speak Out About ‘Conversion Therapy’: Born Perfect Campaign

Following the suicide of a transgender teenager, more celebrities are speaking out about coming out in an effort to try to prevent another tragedy. Among them is 22-year-old activist Stephen Ira, son of Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, reported E! News.

He reflected on the life of Leelah Alcorn, a teen who killed herself when her parents refused to let her transition.

“One of the last things leelah alcorn did in her life was tell another trans girl on tumblr that she was beautiful,” tweeted Ira following the news of Leelah’s death.

The 22-year-old also addressed the issue of parents who are upset when their child comes out.

“…really confused when parents ‘mourn’ when their kid comes out as trans, like, your kid didn’t die, they’re right there and they’re the exact same person…if anything, they’ve gained a kid now that their child feels comfortable enough to come out.”

Among the celebrity parents addressing the issue of raising transgender children, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been candid about accepting their daughter’s desire to be called John, as the Inquisitr reported.

Jolie emphasized that she doesn’t try to change 8-year-old Shiloh, but accepts her as she is.

“She likes to dress like a boy. She wants to be a boy. So we had to cut her hair. She likes to wear boys’ everything. She thinks she’s one of the brothers.”

And Brad agrees with Jolie’s decision to accept Shiloh’s request.

“She only wants to be called John,” revealed Pitt. “So we’ve got to call her John.”

But for some parents, acceptance is more challenging. And the question of the methods that they sometimes choose in response has become highly controversial.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) hosted a Twitter town hall recently to discuss conversion therapy in the wake of Alcorn’s death. During the online session, questions using the hashtag #BornPerfect addressed the dangers of and myths about this methodology.

Among the panelists, NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendall emphasized the goal of ending conversion therapy with her tweet.

“We can and will do better. We can and will end conversion therapy. #BornPerfect @KateKendell”

For a teen named Milo, making the decision to reveal to his family that he was transgender required courage and determination. Now the 15-year-old is taking it a step further by sharing his coming out story with the world in hopes of helping other teens, reported the Huffington Post.

And his advice to parents is simple.

“Support them with your whole heart, don’t tell them they’re too young, buy them new clothes, respect what they want, don’t make them second guess themselves. Just be a huge source of positivity and make them feel safe around you.”

[Photo By Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]