When Ethan was 11 years old, he struggled with understanding why he was unhappy. He knew something about his body wasn't quite as it should be, and his unhappiness manifested itself in suicidal thoughts and depression. As he got older, he came to realize he was struggling with the fact that his gender identity didn't match his gender and began the long transition to becoming a man. This is his story.
At 1:30, he talks about the children he'll never know. At 2:26, he gets me right in the feels.
If you'd like to see more of Ethan's amazing work, you could Like his page on Facebook.
Here's the thing: 4.6% of the general population on average attempts suicide. For gay people, that number ranges up to 20% — over 4x higher. And for transgender people, it's 42% to 46% — about 10x higher. With numbers like these, it's pretty difficult to ignore how hard their lives get over time. And if more of us were aware and understood their struggles, we could start putting a dent in that number. Walk a mile in Ethan's shoes. If you really take a moment to see if they fit, you'll be surprised what sharing his story with others can do. It can help. Little by little, day by day, the more we talk about it, the less chance future kids will think to take their own lives.
Profound words by Ethan Smith and filmed by the fine folks at Button Poetry.
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