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Another LGBT youth, rejected by biological family, succumbs to suicide Wednesday, 1/11/12. 19 year old Eric James Borges of Visalia, CA was known as EricJames to the community.
Jim Reeves, Columnist for QueerLandia.com
“I have never been able to understand how anyone could reject their own family simply because they are gay. My condolences to friends and family (blood and chosen). I met Eric briefly at the My LGBT plus launch in Fresno a few weeks ago. He will be missed by his friends and acquaintances.”
Ted G. Freitas, Co-Founder of My Lgbt Plus
When I heard the news this morning at 12am ish and I was / still am in shock. I had just been introduced to EricJames Borges at the my LGBT plus website launch back in Nov. It’s a bit hard for me accept that I shook someones hand just a few weeks ago and now they are gone. I have to say this is the first person besides my mother that I have personally known that has passed away. It’s rough, but the one thing I know is that he must be in a better place. Most sincere wishes to all Eric’s friends and family. He will be missed!
From all of us at My LGBT Plus you will be missed EricJames Borges!
Please feel free to comment at the bottom to pay respect to EricJames. Feel free to share the article on your Facebook and blog as well.
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I only met EricJames briefly at the launch, but my heart and prayers are with all of you who were closer to him. And I also grieve the loss of a beautiful and precious life. May we find ways to tell his story that honor him and that give hope to other youth who are struggling.
I did not know EricJames and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. May you rest in piece EricJames.
A quick message to the youth reading these posts. Please know that you are not alone. You have so many people to talk to. In our Fresno and surrounding area, there are a wonderful and caring network of people who have gone through a lot of what you are going through. Please know that suicide is not the answer. The answer is to talk, to scream, to laugh, to cry, to share, to love and be loved. So please, reach out to someone.
I wrote to EricJames back on December 10:
“Just saw your video. This was my response (in case there’s any YouTube glitch).
“Thank you for this. Your parents sound like perfect horrors. Welcome to the world -- and it DOES get amazingly better. Stick around, head held high. Look around -- those friends ARE your family. As one who has also had to recover from “Bible abuse,” I applaud you. Had Trevor been around for me (many long years ago), it would have made HUGE differences. You rock!”
And on December 28th, he replied:
“Thanks man! I truly appreciate the support and words of encouragement. Thank you.”
And now this. My heart is broken.
soooo sad…:(
I didn’t know EncJames but my heart breaks when I hear of one more child dying as a result of ignorance and bigotry. I’m a member of PFLAG Merced and the mom of a gay son happily married to his partner.
In honor of EricJames, Please STOP if you are thinking about killing yourself! Seek support right now. We are here for you. My (Dr. Kristin Beasley/KB) phone number is (559) 779-9555, call me. If you would rather, call the Trevor Project, call Jim Reeves from Queerlandia, call the Visalia Lions Pride, each organization has adult mentors who want to support youth as you journey down the insane road of growing up in as EricJames himself said, ” this government sanctioned homophobic world.”. The death of EricJames is a huge loss. We have lost not only him as a beautiful human being and we lost his love and light. He will be missed and he will never get to know how much people really loved HIM!
This loss permeates our community and reminds us that we are human and we ALL have ups and downs, but suicide is not the answer. Make the committment TODAY to honor yourself or someone else by at least promising to talk to someone before you decide to take your own life. We need you and love you no matter what your sexual orientation or sexual identification!!!
Love and Light, KB
As a friend of Eric’s I am deeply saddened and equally pissed at homophobic parents. Please any of the youth out there struggling call anyone who cares like KB said. You Are Loved! You Are Special! DO Not take a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Reach out. There friends here to help you make it better! Do Not deprave the world of you presence and talents.
I have another permanent hole in my heart!
This is a time when words seem to fail each of us, but know this: Suicide is NOT the answer. As KB stated, there are many organizations and people out here who are willing to help. Commit to making the phone call. Let someone in.
I was just getting to know our young friend, EricJames, and he will certainly be missed. If nothing else, his death has focused the spotlight even more intensely on the epidemic of suicide in our LGBT youth family. Today, many of us grieve the loss of our young brother, and many of us recommitt ourselves to reaching out to others in need.
Let someone know. Make the phone call. Send the text. Write the email.
Someone will be there.
I first met Eric the first month I had moved out of my parents house… August of 2007. I remember that I was jealous because he wearing the exact skinny jeans I wanted and his hairstyle was AWESOME… After that we started hanging out EVERYDAY… Until I moved back with my parents and then I lost touch but I never forgot about him…Not only because he was the SWEETEST guy ever but also because I thought he was CUTE and I thought Gay….
It was not until this past semester at COS that I found him again and he was helping teach one of my FAVORITE classes with one of my FAVORITE teachers. Mrs Debra Hansons Human Sexuality Class.. I was SO happy to see him again…We got back in touch and couldnt be happier… SO PROUD of all the work he was doing with the class but also the Trevor Project, PFLAG, and the COS Pride Club….
Eric James Borges…. You are and always will be a CLOSE FRIEND and BROTHER to me from the LGBT Community and Life….I wish I could have been there for you more become closer you… I will miss you TERRIBLY… You will ALWAYS be in my thoughts and prayers….May the Goddess guide your path to Summerland to enjoy her Glorious Orchards prepared for her sons and daughters….<3<3<3
Throughout the Central Valley we remember the life of Eric James Borges, 19, of Visalia, California. I first met Eric at the Reel Pride Film Festival where he helped with The Trevor Project booth at the Youth Pizza Party and again when he came to support My Lgbt Plus at our unveil in November. Not only was he a very kind and talented individual, you could see that he had a passion in his eyes to do something great. I wish I had more time to get to know you Eric -- your LGBTQ family we will always love and miss you.
How meany people will it take dying before the world understands that we are people to. He was my friend and it breaks my heart to know he won’t go on to do all the amazing things I know he would have done
Pingback: CA Teen Filmmaker Commits Suicide After Making “It Gets Better” Video / Queerty
Eric and I first met in Political Science class. We spoke briefly but not at length. He seemed like an amazing person.
This last semester was when we hung out a lot. We always took our breaks together and imagine my surprise when I found out, he knew my Best Friend! And he knew all her family too.
We became really good friends after that. Knowing that he is gone, saddens me and left me in shock. He was supposed to graduate after this semester, he wanted to do film, and he inspired a lot of people. He inspired me.
I will miss him, and a truly bright light has unfortunately been extinguished from the world….Eric James Borges, I miss you already :’(
EricJames, I didn’t know you but reading of your passing breaks my heart. I hope you have found the peace you were seeking. Go gently young man, go gently…
Although I didnt know him personally, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. My biggest prayer is that his family deals with the fact he was rejected by them. It breaks my heart to know that another youth has taken their life. I know that the Heavens have opend their gates and said “Welcome home dear one. Here there is no rejection.” May God give this poor family peace. May the parents of this world NEVER reject a child. God gave them to you to love, cherish,and protect. Please do so. With all my love and deepest sympathy.
THis is sooo sad..my heart is breaking for this beautiful young man that is gone..:(
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO TO HELP HIS CAUSE…
http://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STOPGAYTEENSUICIDES
I did not know Eric and I do not know his family, yet I pray they find peace, forgiveness and love.
Please, take a moment, an hour, a day, a week, a year, the rest of your life if you need that long and ask yourself what kind of God do you believe in if you believe in a God who would want anyone to suffer a life of misery and rejection. In the name of “god” the world has filled with hate, war, distruction, prejudice, fear, loathing, discrimination, rejection, and so many other ugly and terrifyingly horrible acts of violence. Pastors, priests, ministers, emams, rabis, and believers of all faiths who proclaim their God is the God now, right now, is time for you to stand up and proclaim truth, love and justice is the name of your God.
If your God is not love then it is time to stop being stupid. If your God is not love it is time to change. If your God is not love, it is time to find a God who is love.
Stop hiding behind religion to justify hatred. We are called by this horrible loss of our brother Eric to stand up and move out into the light and proclaim GOD IS LOVE AND FORGIVENESS FOREVERMORE.
Stop hate, start love. Start loving, more love, more loving.
I am so very sad to hear of yet another loss, another beautiful life, condemned by ignorance and injustice. I pray WE ALL find justice wherever we are, wherever we pray, and join with all who pray for love.
Pingback: EricJames Borges, 19, Killed Himself Wednesday After Having Endured a Traumatic Coming-Out Experience | Accidental Bear
Shalom ×©×œ×•× All,
On the sad day that we have lost a young soul ERIC JAMES BORGES I feel the need to make few points to all of us to think about. Knowing well that some of you were helping ERIC and just as sad as I’m for loosing ERIC. I hope we all will take what I’m about to write in the positive open eye so, WE (yes we are all in it together) can hopefully prevents it from ever happening again. So here I go and sorry up front if it will be a bit long and strong, because I feel so mad that we lost ERIC.
The first thing we do when we learn about the lost of ERIC is to point fingers at his family that rejected him and started the down hill snow ball. However as you who knows me and in the good words of Mr. Michel Jackson have we looked at the “Man in the Mirrorâ€? What have we (Yes, his extended LGBT family) done to help ERIC to see that life is worth living and “It gets Betterâ€. Did we take the time to have ONE on ONE talk with ERIC to learn what his needs and challenges are at this cross road in his life? Or we felt that Texting and impersonal social media will do that, well my friends I think NOT. We can not bring ERIC back to us, but I like for all of us to make a pledge here and now in ERIC honors that before we are pointing fingers at the world out there, we’ll look inwards to see how each and every one of us can be up front with one another, knowing that we have each other for our support. Again I like thank you that worked with ERIC and I feel your pain even though I have never had met ERIC.
In closing I would like to send my condolences to his family and friends.
I know that we all are going to do our best to help cease tragedy.
Please help me to pray for ERIC soul.
Yours truly,
Adi
It sounds like Eric James made a significant difference in many people lives.
Rest in Peace Eric James!
For everyone else out there having problem finding acceptance and support, LIFE does gets better once you go beyond your teenage and early 20′s -- for some even earlier than that.
There are many happy and successful LGBT people in our Central Valley communities -- many of them in loving, long-term and healthy relationships.
Give yourself a chance! LIVE! Give us a chance to meet you and share our life with you. Share your pain and troubles with us. We’ve been there, we will show you the way out -- the way to a better future.
LGBT people are blessed many many great qualities, rarely found in our heterosexual sister & brothers. We are creative, smart, and forward thinkers. We have style, fashion, and create trends
Above all, we are loving and caring individuals -- we define being human. We are the future of humanity!
LIVE! VIVA! HUGS!
Gay Bakersfield
I am so sorry to see that you were forced to leave this world by people that I never would have thought would be so crule. You were from my home neck of the woods Luv. I lived in Dinuba, CA for 6 years when I was young and I still call it home and it is very hard to on me to see that people in that area could be so nasty and crule!
I know that I do not need to do this and perhaps I will get a bit of flack from my home town for it, but, On behalf of the people of Dinuba, CA, I am so sorry that you were treated so poorly and made to feel that you were unwanted and that your own family were so closedminded as to toss you out of your home and turn their backs on you when you needed them.
Know this young one. I have asked The Mother to put her Fey Ones around you to love, help, comfort and protect you!
Lady Royce
I am an atheist -- no God in my life -- only love and acceptance for everyone regardless of their beliefs and orientation. Maybe all these religious types should take a look at me and then take a look at the God they believe in….I am so saddened by the loss of this beautiful young man…he seemed so full of goodness…
This is one of the worst things that can happen to our community. I remember meeting EricJames and he will be greatly missed by all. My hearts go out to his family, friends, and those hearts he unknowingly touched.
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To our Youth, you are not alone, there are many kind loving and caring people waiting to be your friend. I choose to not give into hate and I hope that you do the same. This My LGBT Plus is here for you, http://www.rainbowdelegation.org , your local GSA, and countless other organizations are available and have a home in their heart for you.
Be part of our Life Journey filled with diversity, love, acceptance and hugs
In loving memory of a great person, Eric James <3
~Feliz Andrea
I did not know Eric James Borges but I can not even begin to describe the sadness I feel regarding the loss of an exceptional young man who apparently just longed for unconditional love. His message and short film truly touched me and although Mr. Borges was many years younger than myself’ I too can understand the impact of cruel and ignorant individual’s judgements of worth having grown up in the same general area as a gay man. I hope the people who persecuted him for what seems to be most of his life will experience long term moments of serious reflections and gut wrenching regret that they will never recover from so that maybe even just one of them will begin to understand… we are born this way and our love is in no way less valid than yours! R.I.P. Eric James Borges and I pray you’ve found the peace you have obviously sought your entire life.