An American teenager has taken his own life just a month after recording an uplifting video telling bullied gay youths that they have “an entire life fit to burst with opportunities” ahead of them, as part of the It Gets Better Project.
Eric James Bourges, a writer, filmmaker and speaker, who also worked as an intern for The Trevor Project - which is focused on suicide prevention among gay teens - committed suicide on Wednesday, following a lifetime of bullying and rejection from strangers, friends and his own family.
In his recent message to the It Gets Better Project, the 19-year-old from Visalia, California urged others not to give up. He said: “You have an entire life fit to burst with opportunities ahead of you. Don’t ever give up, and don’t ever for one second think that you’re not a valuable and beautiful contribution to this world. It gets better.”
Borges said in the video that he was bullied from nursery until college where he was “stalked, spat on, ostracized and physically assaulted.”
He added: “I reached my limit when I was assaulted in a full classroom with a teacher present. I dropped out, went on independent studies, graduated early and started college.
“My parents told me that, among other things, I was disgusting, perverted, unnatural and damned to hell. About two months ago they officially kicked me out of my house.”
In his inspiring video, Borges convinced others that they could have a meaningful life after years of bullying: “The friends I lost were few, and yes I lost my family, but not every coming out story is as graphic as mine,” he said.
“However I’m giving you this condensed history of my background to tell you this. It gets better. Now I am a supplemental instructor of sexuality, a freelance guest speaker, a published writer and I work for The Trevor Project.
Laura McGinnis, the Communications Director at The Trevor Project, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death of Eric James Borges, and our hearts go out to his family and friends, and his community.
“Eric James was a dedicated, trained volunteer. Our main concern right now is that those affected by his death feel supported and can get the care they need,” the Daily Mail reports.
The tragic death of Borges follows the suicides of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, and 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer, who inspired Lady Gaga to set up her Born This Way Foundation to tackle anti-gay bullying.
