Gay California teen Eric James Borges commits suicide, weeks after posting an It Gets Better video

This is Eric James Borges. He posted this It Gets Better video last month. Yesterday, he committed suicide. Eric, 19, was an intern with the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for LGBT youth.

Jim Reeves, Vice President of Queer Landia, had met Eric personally. He reports about his suicide:

Word began spreading late Wednesday among shocked and saddened friends and acquaintances.  Not accepted by his birth family, EricJames was striking out on his own, trying to deal with his personal situation, but also wanting to help others.  Sadly, even involvement with the Trevor Project was not enough to help him navigate the turbulent waters of young adulthood.

Update: Stephnie Davison, a classmate and good friend of Eric's responded to this blog post by sharing a bit about Eric:

He was an amazing person who was bullied throughout his entire life. He was beaten at home for being gay and kicked out multiple times. His mother never approved of him being himself. When he tried to be Eric, he couldn’t. He was an artist, a friend, a boyfriend, and a truly amazing individual. EricJames Borges will always be remembered and he was my friend.

[…]

His mother disowned him, and refuses to talk to him. I’m not sure that she knows he even committed suicide tbh.

George Takei’s hilarious response to anti-gay Arkansas school board member

George Takei, known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, has responded to the recent news about Arkansas school board member Clint McCance.

McCance recently announced on Anderson Cooper 360 that he would resign after posting homophobic comments and encouraging gay people to commit suicide.

In the video, George Takei calls McCance a “douchebag,” implies that he is in the closet, and references the George Rekers rentboy scandal.

McCance drew international media attention after encouraging gay teens to kill themselves. He posted, “It pisses me off though that we make a special purple fag day for them. I like that fags cant procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other aids and die.”

Actor Daniel Radcliffe Films LGBT Teen Suicide Prevention PSA

Daniel Radcliffe has become the new face of ‘The Trevor Project.’ The He just filmed a public service announcement for the organization, which focuses on suicide prevention efforts among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered teens.

“I grew up knowing a lot of gay men. It was never something that I even thought twice about, that some men were gay and some weren’t…. The fact that I’m straight makes – not a difference – but just the fact that it shows, actually, straight people are incredibly interested in and care a lot about this, as well. And you don’t have to be gay to take an interest…. This is the thing I’m probably most passionate about.”