15-year-old Alabama high school student Nigel Shelby took his own life last Friday after being targeted by bullies for being gay.
"We were saddened to learn this morning of the death of Nigel Shelby, one of our 9th grade students. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time," Aaron King, the principal of Huntsville High School, where Nigel attended, said in a statement on Facebook.
"We are heartbroken over the death of Nigel Shelby, a 15 year old freshman at Huntsville High School," Huntsville's local LGBT organization Rocket City Pride said in another statement. "Nigel took his life because he was bullied for being gay. There are no words that can be said to make sense of this devastating news."
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help Nigel's family cover the costs of funeral expenses, and at the time of reporting, over $16,000+ (of a $26,000 goal) has been raised.
If you are a trans or gender-nonconforming person considering suicide, Trans Lifeline can be reached at (877) 565-8860. LGBTQ youth (ages 24 and younger) can reach the Trevor Project Lifeline at (866) 488-7386. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 can also be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities.
