Another gay person commits the final act: Joseph Jefferson of GMAD

[WillParkinson]

It pains me to write this, but Brooklyn-based gay activist Joseph Jefferson committed suicide this weekend by hanging himself. Jefferson was a 2002 graduate of New York City’s Harvey Milk High School, worked for Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD), the People of Color in Crisis (POCC) and most recently as an assistant for NYC LGBT event promoters Laurence Pinckney and James Saunders. Jefferson was only 26 years old. Our fight is still ongoing, my friends. We can’t stop fighting.

According to Queerty, he shared this final message with his Facebook friends:
“I could not bear the burden of living as a gay man of color in a world grown cold and hateful towards those of us who live and love differently than the so-called ’social mainstream.’ Belonging is one of the basic human needs, when people feel isolated and excluded from a sense of communion with others, they suffer.

“I have been an advocate for my peers and most importantly youth because most have never had a deep emotional attachment to anyone. They don’t know how to love and be loved in return. The need to be loved can sometimes translate to the need to belong to someone or something. Driven by that need….. Most will do anything to belong.”


Mr. Jefferson

[Cid_B]

1. The media coverage...

... and steady attention is telling these kids/young adults that suicide is ok and the world will think fondly of you after you are gone.

[xchrom]

2. Good night Sweet Prince. Nt

[LaurenG]

3. Oh no...

So very sad. :( Why can't we just find it in our hearts to really love and accept each other?

[political_Dem]

4. I send my deepest condolences.

This is heartbreaking. It seems that there's a new story regarding suicide everyday. I really want things to change so that no one suffers anymore. That's why we all have to fight for an equality that does not leave one person as a second class citizen whether it is race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or any other disenfranchisement.

Americans are too reserved. We need to be like the French so that all of our human and civil rights issues get recognized. :(

[marmar]

5. Good grief....This is a crisis and needs to be treated as such.

nt