Eric James Borges' Suicide Note, Memorial Service Sheds New Insight Into Bullied Gay Teen's Life

A published excerpt from a suicide note and comments made by friends at a memorial service is shedding a new light on a gay teen filmmaker who took his own life earlier this month.

San Diego Gay & Lesbian News contributor Melanie Nathan, who attended one of several memorials dedicated to Eric James Borges (known as 'EricJames' to his friends), quotes from the note -- which includes references to friends and his favorite pop icon -- in her exclusive report.

"To my friends you gave me life and love, never think this was your fault," one segment reads. "To Lady Gaga, you have been a fearless relentless proud LGBT advocate..." The 19-year-old Borges, who worked as an intern for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth advocacy group The Trevor Project, also expresses his gratitude to the organization: “I do not want my passing to reflect poorly on the Trevor Project,” he wrote. “That organization was the best decision I ever made in my life.”

The note concludes: “My pain is not caused because I am gay. My pain was caused by how I was treated because I am gay.”

Borges' "extremist religious" parents, who kicked their son out of their home after allegedly performing an exorcism on him, did not attend the memorial, Nathan noted in her report.

Borges' passing left friends and acquaintances confused, particularly as the budding filmmaker had produced an "It Gets Better" video in support of LGBT youth just one month earlier. Jennifer McGuire, with whom Borges lived after being kicked out of his own home, is quoted as saying, "By the time he got to us, his real family, he was so injured and so wounded that the triage we provided wasn’t enough."


Need help? Visit The Trevor Project's website or call them at 1-866-488-7386. In the U.S. you can also call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or visit stopbullying.gov.

You can also visit Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network's (GLSEN) website for more resources.

http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/home/index.html

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

http://www.stopbullying.gov/

Trevor Project Intern Takes His Own Life

Yet another LGBTQ teen has turned to suicide, this time hitting close to home for the very people who try so hard to help teens in their times of crisis. Details on the sad news of Eric Borges' passing after the jump.
San Joaquin Valley resident Eric Borges reportedly took his own life Wednesday, despite time spent working as an intern with the Trevor Project. The 19-year-old, known as EricJames by friends and family, was a vocal supporter of LGBT youth, even making an “It Get’s Better” video last year.

Laura McGinnis, communications director at the Trevor Project, sent a statement to LGBTQ Nation upon their coverage of the suicide, saying, “We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death of EricJames Borges, and our hearts go out to his family and friends, and his community. EricJames 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. If you or someone you know needs support, please don’t hesitate to call the Trevor Lifeline at 866-488-7386.”

LGBTQ Nation also notes that EricJames, who was turned away by his birth family, had been attempting to make a life for himself on his own.

Further details surrounding the incident are not known, and we certainly don’t want to speculate as to reasoning. More importantly, our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time, and we also echo Laura McGinnis in urging anyone struggling or feeling in need of some support to please reach out for help.

The number again for the Trevor Lifeline is 866-488-7386.

Lady Gaga to be Honored with "Hero Award"

On Sunday, December 4, 2011, The Trevor Project will honor Lady Gaga with the Trevor Hero Award and Google Inc with the Trevor 2020 Award during "Trevor Live" at the Hollywood Palladium (6215 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA). The annual show benefits the life-saving work of The Trevor Project, a recent honoree of the White House as a Champion of Change for leadership and innovation in suicide prevention. The event’s presenting sponsors are Audi of America and ING.

"Our young people are at the center of a health crisis, and vocal leaders like Lady Gaga and technology leaders like Google Inc have stepped up to help change our culture," said David McFarland, Interim Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. "Our honorees are working with The Trevor Project to make a better today and a brighter tomorrow for youth. We are proud to honor Lady Gaga with the Trevor Hero Award and Google Inc with the Trevor 2020 award for their work to help young people express their true selves with pride." Full story here!

Lady Gaga honored by The Trevor Project

The Trevor Live event in Los Angeles, which raises vital funds for The Trevor Project‘s suicide-prevention services, is a who’s who of celebrities. At least celebrities that have a soft spot for LGBT youth.

And when it comes to A-Listers who love gay kids, there’s none bigger than Lady Gaga, an honoree at this year’s event, taking place December 4 at the Hollywood Palladium.  She’s receiving the Trevor Hero Award for her advocacy on behalf of the gay community, while Google Inc. is getting Trevor 2020 Award for increasing visibility and understanding of LGBT issues and creating a model for gay-friendly workplaces.

“Our young people are at the center of a health crisis, and vocal leaders like Lady Gaga and technology leaders like Google Inc. have stepped up to help change our culture,” said Trevor Project director David McFarland. “Our honorees are working with The Trevor Project to make a better today and a brighter tomorrow for youth.”

 

Mother Monster’s not the only star hitting the stage that night: Neil Patrick Harris, Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah and Glee‘s Darren Criss and Amber Riley are all scheduled to perform. Also making appearances are Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, Will Arnett, Amber Heard, Christina Hendricks, Rashida Jones, Queen Latifah, Joe Manganiello, Zachary Quinto, Kyle Richards, Nicole Richie, Amber Riley,  Zoe Saldana, Amy Poehler, LeAnn Rimes, Matt Bomer, Jane Lynch, the cast of Glee and Modern Family, and many others.

This sounds hotter than the Oscars!

Broadway SIngs for Trevor Project

Tim Gunn for The Trevor Project/It Gets Better

In September, five teenage boys killed themselves after being physically or verbally (or both) assaulted for being gay. The suicides of Tyler Clementi, 18, Billy Lucas, 15, Asher Brown, 13, Justin Aaberg, 15, and Seth Walsh, 13, have brought national attention to the epidemic of bullying in American schools.

Now, a number of stars, many of whom have personal experience with anti-gay bullying, are speaking out in hopes of raising awareness and providing support to teens and young adults who are being victimized or who are having trouble dealing with their sexuality. The topic is also addressed in a cover story for this week's PEOPLE magazine and in a week-long series on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360.



Most recently, 'Project Runway' mentor Tim Gunn spoke candidly about his own suicide attempt and his support for The Trevor Project, a national 24-hour, toll-free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth. "I understand the desperation. I understand the despair," an emotional Gunn said with tears in his eyes. "And I understand how isolated you can feel ... It will get better. I promise."

Following Billy Lucas' death, well-known columnist and author Dan Savage launched the "It Gets Better" campaign – a series of user-created YouTube videos in which gay adults openly discuss the torment they incurred in high school and encourage GLBT youth to stick it out because "it gets better." Clementi's death has inspired an overwhelming response to the campaign, which has since been flooded with videos from men and women across the world sharing their stories.



"When a gay teenager commits suicide, it's because he can't picture a life for himself that's filled with joy and family and pleasure and is worth sticking around for," Savage told MTV a week after Clementi's death. "So I felt it was really important that, as gay adults, we show them that our lives are good and happy and healthy and that there's a life worth sticking around for after high school."

Savage's "It Gets Better" message has seemingly become the rallying cry around which a movement against anti-gay bullying has centered, with Anne Hathaway, Jenny McCarthy, Ian Somerhalder and Kristin Cavallari recording a PSA for The Trevor Project that uses the motto. 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe also recently spoke to MTV about the importance of the Trevor Project.



TV stars Ellen DeGeneres and Neil Patrick Harris have also spoken out against anti-gay bullying. "This needs to be a wake up call to everyone ... One life lost in this senseless way is tragic; four lives lost is a crisis," DeGeneres said in an emotional message taped on the set of her daytime talk show. "My heart is breaking for their families, for their friends and for our society that continues to let this happen. These kids needed us, and we have an obligation to change this. We can't let intolerance and ignorance to take another kid's life."

Celebrities Team Up for Anti-Bullying Campaigns


By John Mitchell Posted Oct 6th 2010 02:00PM

Some thoughts for the day

Sorry I have not posted since Thursday but things have been hectic and I have not quite felt like myself the last few days. There is so much to write about, where does one begin?

Thursday night we had our Cleveland Playhouse season tickets and we went and saw Xanadu. A rather silly musical based on the Olivia Newton John movie of the same name. The movie as many of you know was a HUGE flop and while the play has no huge story line, it does have all the original music from the movie. It was light hearted, silly, very Eighties complete with leg warmers and it kept your toes tapping while you sang along at points. Would I have spent big bucks to see it, probably not but as part of our season tickets it was fun.

The weather is finally warming up a little and the snow is finally melting--hurrah and on the side of the house I can see the starts of daffodils popping out of the ground! Spring my friends is finally one its way. The dogs seem a little sad I think because they JUST LOVE the snow and until the grass is dry and green there is isn't much to play in outside. Although Toto does love running in circles in the mud!

As many of you are aware if your into the news like I am Marie Osmond's Michael Blosil committed sucide Friday night leaping from his eighth floor apartment building he was only eighteen years old.  There are a few reasons I bring this up.  The first is Michael was a student of the Fashion Design and Merchandising, the school that was featured on the Los Angeles season of "Project Runway".  We will never know what wonderful and creative things Michael could have created. (Michael is the eldest in the photogrpah on the side).  And when a fellow designer dies I for one take notice.  It is so tragic and sad that he saw no other way.

The second is the Osmonds have gone on record saying that his suicide was because of his long battle with severe depression, which I am not denying or making light of in any way.  Depression can and does many things to lead to some people to desperate actions, myself included.  In my own life time there have been two periods where I tried committing suicide by overdosing.  This topic is very close to my heart and I understand what leads to this.  I have been fortunate both times and friends rescued me who were near at the time and for that I am grateful.  It was a long painful road that lead to that period of my life and it was a long road out of that period as well.

This statement from the Osmonds has brought some heat especially from the likes of movie/television star Roseanne Barr.



"Marie Osmond's poor gay son killed himself because he had been told how wrong and how sick he was every day of his life by his church and the people in it. Calling that 'depression' is a lie!


"Hey, I want her and all the gay kids in the world to know that they are just fine being gay and that they deserve love and respect instead of insults and rebuke! I have gay people in my family and my circle of friends and I am kicking bigot ass and taking names!
"Yet even though the people they say they love the most in all of their public displays and speeches (THEIR KIDS AND FAMILY!!) are gay,-- their own children, for crying out loud- these people cannot find the Christian decency and compassion within themselves to stop their hypocritical gay bashing!! How sickening. I know so many Mormon kids who were gay and committed suicide, and I just cannot and will not stay quiet in order to not offend bigots anymore. It is all so terribly depressing.  Roseanne Barr, writing on her personal blog.

While I am not in any means endorsing what Roseanne said I find it interesting to say the least that she is the only one who brings up his sexuality and she is the only one talking about.  Religion for the most part can be for many a very oppressive and condemning aspect to many people just not gays and I find that statement very sad indeed.  If this statement is true about his sexuality I would hope that Marie has the hutzpah to honor her son, his life and this horrific tragedy by becoming a very vocal advocate and supporter of PFLAG (Parents Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and changing the lives of those who feel like there is no other way out. 

I am here to say there is someone who knows what it is like, someone who has been there and someone who understands.  Someone who cares for you and is there to help you through it.  I just wish more people would be as open, receptive and caring---then maybe

Until next time I am so glad we had this time together and that you contiue to come back and read .

The following "Youtube" post does contain include use of profanity, but please keep in mind that the "letter" is very real. THE TREVOR PROJECT
http://www.thetrevorproject.org

If you need to call the Trevor Hotline...
1-866-4U-Trevor
(866.488.7386)