A North Carolina mother believes that bullying led to her teen transgender son Ash Haffner's suicide
A North Carolina mother believes that bullying led to her teen transgender son's suicide, reports WSOCTV.
16-year-old Ashlyn Haffner died close to his family's Indian Trail home late last month. According to an accident report Ashlyn – who went by the name Ash – stepped into the path of an oncoming vehicle, the same way Ohio transgender teen Leelah Alcorn (right) died in December of last year.
Ash's mother April Quick said the bullying started when Ash decided he wanted to transition from female to male.
Quick found a suicide note on Ash's iPad that 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."
At a memorial service outside Porter Ridge High School, where Ash was a student, family and friends lit candles, shared memories of the teen and pleaded for acceptance of all people. The school's principal said the district is fully cooperating with investigators as they dig deeper into Ash's death.
Watch a Fox News report, AFTER THE JUMP…(warning: autoplay)
