The death of transgender 17-year-old Leelah Alcorn has started a national conversation about the issues faced by trans youth.
Alcorn left behind a suicide note referencing her parents' refusal to accept her identity, saying, "The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren't treated the way I was, they're treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights."
Alcorn's death has prompted mourning, calls for action and emotional debate — and brought increased attention to the high rate of suicide in the trans community. A recent study from UCLA found that 41 percent of transgender people in the survey had attempted suicide — nearly nine times the national average.
[For more of of this story go to http://www.npr.org/blogs/codes...uch-a-long-way-to-go]
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