An Ohio Teens Suicide, A Mothers

Anguish By: Ashley Franz

By: Raquelle C., Kailee M., and Christen B.

Organization
The article is mostly a narrative Josh/ Leelah, Alcorns mother, Shane Morgan
Also combined with a comparison and contrast
Mothers perspective vs. the son/daughters perspective
Josh/Leelahs perspective is paired with the interview answers of Alcorns mother
to CNN
Third Party perspective is given towards the end
- provides narration and theme/ ideas of the article in the ending to provide a
strong perspective on the content as a whole

Elaboration
The teenagers death has ignited intensely emotional reactions across social media.
The hashtag #LeelahAlcorn is carrying messages of support for all transgender people.
Many post are hateful and vengeful notes directed at the teens parents.
Why are people sending hateful and vengeful notes towards the parents when all
they wanted was for their son to be a boy and not get medical help to become a girl?
The author could have also indicated who these people were that are sending the
notes, for example if its her friends from school or even random strangers, but also
why is it only now that Josh Alcorn Leelah Alcorn death is being brought to the
spotlight when this same situation has been happening for the past year or longer.

Counterargument
In An Ohio Teens Suicide, A Mothers Anguish by: Ashley Franz the author describes a
situation in Ohio where a 17 year old boy committed suicide. The teen felt that he was a girl in a
boys body but due to his family's religion his parents strongly refused to accept what he felt by
taking him to christian therapists and taking away anything that gave the boy hope resulting in
the teen taking his own life. The author argues that parents should accept their child for who they
are and to give support regardless of their religion or beliefs in order to avoid the risk of suicide,
so Joshs parents were to blame for the suicide of Leelah. Of course, many parents would agree
that for their childs safety they would try to accept their child no matter what they believe in or
who they are, but in some parents they find it difficult to accept their child and try to control who
their child is. Like most parents, Joshs parents only wanted what was best for their child and tried
to solve the issue by taking him to therapists and by talking to him. His parents loved him and
although they could not fully understand and accept their son they were not to blame for his
suicide.

Connections from text to world

They wanted me to be their perfect little christian boy, and thats obviously not
what I wanted. ( Page 2 pgh 13 )
- Many families come from a type of religion that may sometimes get in the way of
the relationship between the parent and child. It often happens when the child
has a different opinion or even when they come out to tell them that they are gay.
She came out as gay at school, a move that was supported by friends but made her
parents angry, she wrote.
- Students today find it easier to come out to their friends in school because they
feel more comfortable with their friends because they know that they wont be
judge by them than if they were to tell their parents.

Say, Mean, Matter

Say

Mean

Matter

I immediately told my mom, and

she reacted extremely negatively,
telling me that it was a phase, that
I would never truly be a girl, that
God doesnt make mistakes, that I
am wrong. (pgh. 12).

The teens mother didnt accept

her childs feelings of wanting to
become a girl because of their
religious beliefs.

Telling her teen that he was just

mistaken and that what he is
feeling is wrong made the teen
hate himself which made him
commit suicide.

I was completely alone for 5

months. No friends, no support,
no love. Just my parent's
disappointment and the cruelty of
loneliness. (pgh. 32).

Joshs parents took away his

access to social media because
he was looking at inappropriate
things on the internet.

The boys parents took away all

forms of support and hope that he
had of becoming transgender and
being accepted for who he was.