Activists Remember Leelah Alcorn Through Community Service

(Lebanon, Oh) -  It has been three years since the tragic death of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn and since that time one local activist has been keeping her memory alive by sponsoring a highway clean up group in her name.

"We try to raise awareness and prevent further loss of life," said LGBTQ Activist Chris Fortin. "Leelah wasn't even 18 when she lost her life by suicide, so that's been the goal ever since then just getting out in the community as much as humanly possible and educating as much as humanly possible with community resources, social media, links, articles, videos, you name it." 

Activist Chris Fortin said the clean up group on Thursday is laying a ceremonial wreath in her honor along the same stretch of I-71 near Lebanon where Leelah died and where a memorial highway sign now stands.

Alcorn's suicide note on her Tumblr blog went viral on the internet after her death in December of 2014, bringing international attention to the tragedy. The note expressed her feelings about societal issues affecting transgender people and her hope that her death would create awareness about transgender teens and adults. 

Leelah Alcorn sign
Leelah Alcorn

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