Friends say Eric James
Borges, 19, killed himself Wednesday after having endured a traumatic
coming-out experience.
Borges had worked for the Trevor Project, which described him
as “a dedicated, trained volunteer” in its mission of preventing suicide among
LGBT youth. And he’d taped an It Gets Better video that tells the story of how he “was raised
in an extremist Christian household” and was kicked out of his parents’ home.
“My mother knew I was gay and performed an exorcism on me in
an attempt to cure me,” he said in his video. His family told him he was
“disgusting” and “damned to hell.”
Borges also described growing up bullied and eventually
dropping out of high school. “I was stalked, spit on, ostracized, and
physically assaulted,” he said. “My name was not Eric but faggot.”
“Back when I was in the closet, I never dreamed that I would
be able to express my sexuality and have a normal relationship,” he said in the
It Gets Better video.
Borges taped a
video project last year that seemed to bring his dream to life. The video,
shared online, shows him and another boy embracing lovingly and kissing. In
outtakes, a person behind the camera can be heard
whispering “That’s beautiful” as passing cars honk in support.
Watch the final version of Borges’s video project below. “The
underlining subtext of this video is love is universal,” Borges wrote about the
short film. “It has the strength to decimate the threshold of all prejudice,
all inequity. Human relationships, and those who come into our lives, have the
ability to ultimately shape who we are. There is importance in loving each
other the way each of us truly deserves.”
The Trevor Project reacted to the news of Borges death with sadness.
“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,” a statement read. “Our main concern right now is that those
affected by his death feel supported and can get the care they need.”
Those needing support can contact the Trevor Lifeline at
(866) 488-7386.
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