You know, the accusations thrown at Tek highlights a bigger and far more worrisome problem - the concept that somehow, some way, some people are more "morally just" than others. The end results are a disturbing trend.
Tek has
repeatedly stated that he does not support the parents, that he rather wants to observe other perspectives on the issue. Most of his posts have little to do with Leelah's case in particular but are observations on people's behaviour regarding this and similar cases. If you are going to repeatedly misrepresent his opinions, arguments and make assumptions about him, me, or anyone else on this forum, you are not interested in discussion but rather demonization. Calling him "conservative" because he isn't continue to fuel your echo chamber of rage is the most recent blow to his word. This is honestly disturbing because it's very clear that either his posts are not being read at all past the first paragraph due to objecting content or being interpreted disjointedly, looking at the trees in the forest.
Tek brought up a really interesting point that I think a lot of people are failing to see here in their urge to dig dirt on other people in the thread and seek out individuals they want to label as "transphobic". He pointed out that other perspectives must be acknowledged or else we are just as bad as the oppressors.
And he's right.
You cannot simply just destroy everything that you don't like or don't agree with. That is just as oppressive as the individuals who try to limit in other directions. Regardless of whether or not you want to interpret it as such isn't important.
If you are making arbitrary rules about how others should live their lives, you are just as guilty.
An important thing to understand in this case is what the motive of the parents were. Because they were technically trying to "heal" their child, it's pretty clear that what they were doing, regardless of how evil other people may see it, is not an act of murder, because it is not an intentional killing.
Of course this would be a prime example of negligence, perhaps even child abuse. Being ignorant is not an excuse and is most certainly not a "get out of jail free" card. But you cannot expect to be "morally superior" if you are, yourself, doing whatever it takes to silence those with whom you disagree. And I'm not talking about the parents - I think we can all agree that their actions, at minimum, are those based in gross negligence - I'm talking about fellow individuals in this thread.
These sort of close minded attitudes are what help continue to perpetuate negative attitudes towards minorities like LGBT in general. You are continuing to harm those who need it most. Promote integration of ideas instead of trying to burn everything you don't agree with in sight. Try to understand
why people feel whatever way that they do regarding a situation, and if they disagree with you, explain to them why you think they're wrong.
I shouldn't have to be explaining this but clearly people in this section of the forum are incapable of acting on it.
It doesn't really matter if they were ignorant or not. Plus, this isn't really a situation in which communication is even possible. Leelah told them what she wanted multiple times, and they denied her multiple times. I can't say whether she ever said "I'm going to kill myself." to them or not, but it sounds like she was quite clear with them overall.
I just noticed this. She was upset because she was denied transition surgery, correct? If I recall correctly, that doesn't come cheap, regardless of what the parents think. It's pretty unreasonable to expect someone to go and pay for such an expensive surgery, which isn't currently covered by many medical plans, which has no perceived benefit to those who don't understand it. Even then, most people would not be willing to cover such a surgery at that price point unless it was completely life saving/changing (such as cancer treatments or treatments for blindness/deafness). Personally I would probably not fork over that amount of cash for my kid for something that can be managed in other ways - and I'd be nervous about physically altering my kid for something that basically is a solution to a mental disconnect.
I know that Leelah's parents had other problems and I'm not undermining those, but I think it's pretty important to point this out.