As we've been reporting, the tragic death of Leelah Alcorn has grabbed the attention of people across the country and across the world. Leelah's final plea in a suicide note posted on Tumblr was that we "fix society." Since then, hundreds rallied in D.C., a Cleveland City Councilman gave an emotional and impactful speech on the need to protect trans youth, Transparent creator Jill Soloway dedicated her show's Golden Globe win to Leelah Alcorn and also Jane Clementi, the mother of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers student who took his own life after he learned that his roommate had recorded him kissing another man, is speaking out and calling for a change in our "hearts and minds" so that we "celebrate every life":
“We as a culture must teach the lesson each day that all life has value and has purpose – especially the lives of all young people, regardless of who they are,” she said. “That's an irrevocable value. The only way to make a difference in this world – to truly change hearts and minds – is through celebrating and accepting every life.”
Jane Clementi added, “Nobody knows better than my family that ending life cannot create change. After Tyler took his life, our mission has been to ensure that no family endures the pain that Tyler and Leelah both endured and that we are sure that the Alcorns are experiencing. It's only by building a world where every life is sacred that we move forward.”
