Family and friends are mourning a 20 year old Philadelphia man named Reese, who reportedly died by suicide on Monday after months of harassment tied to his relationship with a transgender woman. The news was reported by outlets including The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Advocate.
Reese had gone live on Facebook in recent months to defend his relationship with his girlfriend, Faith. That video reportedly drew more than 15,000 views, along with a wave of hateful comments from people who criticized the relationship.
A separate video also circulated on social media showing a group of men harassing Reese while recording on their phones. Some of the men can be heard using hateful language. According to some Twitter users, the clip was recorded and posted months before his death and began circulating again in recent weeks. Baller Alert has not independently confirmed when it was filmed.
The video caught the attention of several public figures, including Pose star Indya Moore, who shared it on Instagram. Moore, who is a transgender woman, used the post to call for an end to the mistreatment of the trans community and asked why society is so focused on how people live and love instead of protecting each other’s safety and freedom.
Faith shared a tribute to Reese on Instagram. She wrote that she plans to make sure his story is told accurately and said the situation was deeper than bullying alone. She also said she has messages and voicemails from him and that he wanted to share his story through his music.
Details about the circumstances of his death have come mostly from social media posts and early news reports. Baller Alert did not have additional information from authorities at the time of publication.
Prayers go out to Reese’s family and loved ones. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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This is sad! Love who you wish. It’s no ones business…