EricJames Borges

EricJames Borges, 19

Meet EricJames Borges, 19, of California.  Eric committed suicide Jan 12th, 2012 after a traumatic coming out experience.  He had made an "It Gets Better Video" and was a volunteer with the Trevor Project.

From the story:

...
Friends say EricJames Borges, 19, killed himself Wednesday after having endured a traumatic coming-out experience.

Borges had worked for the Trevor Project, which described him as “a dedicated, trained volunteer” in its mission of preventing suicide among LGBT youth. And he’d taped an It Gets Better video that tells the story of how he “was raised in an extremist Christian household” and was kicked out of his parents’ home.

“My mother knew I was gay and performed an exorcism on me in an attempt to cure me,” he said in his video. His family told him he was “disgusting” and “damned to hell.”
...

Here is his It Gets Better Video:




From SDGLN :

Bullied gay teen's suicide note: Insight on EricJames Borges' tragic death at age 19

“To my friends you gave me life and love, never think this was your fault ... To Lady Gaga, you have been a fearless relentless proud LGBT advocate ...” - Excerpt from a suicide note by EricJames Borges

Unlike during his life, 19-year-old EricJames Borges was in control at the end; he uploaded the music and chose the people; he designed his own funeral service and it was poignant. This past Saturday, Borges was celebrated at one of three memorials held in Visalia, and the one I attended was held by the small California Central Valley town’s grieving LGBT community, those describing themselves as his new family.

His religious-extremist parents had been invited but did not attend.

Mere months before, EricJames came out, recorded an “It Gets Better” video, made a short film and gave anti-bullying suicide prevention workshops to other teens; yet he could not sustain his own pain and committed suicide just two weeks ago.

Sources:
http://sdgln.com/news/2012/01/26/bullied-gay-teen-suicide-note-insight-ericjames-borges-death-19#.TylFcPtnoVc.facebook
http://news.advocate.com/post/15753265844/ericjames-borges-19-leaves-behind-message-of-love
http://instinctmagazine.com/blogs/blog/trevor-project-intern-takes-his-own-life?directory=100011
http://www.queerty.com/ca-teen-filmmaker-commits-suicide-after-making-it-gets-better-video-20120112