Alabama mayor dies by suicide after being outed for LGBT online persona
An Alabama preacher has tragically died after an area of his personal life was leaked online.
FL “Dude” CopelandMayor of Smiths Station and preacher at First Baptist Church in Phenix City, died by suicide Friday after being outed for his transgender online persona.
Just two days before his tragic death, right-wing blog 1819 News published a post slamming the late politician for his online pseudonym. Brittini Blaire Summerlin, who described herself as a “transgender curvy girl in transition who loves smiles, clothes and shoes!” The outlet revealed this Instagram And Reddit Accounts associated with Bittini appeared to show Copeland in women’s clothing, as well as posts related to trans pornography and erotica that he allegedly wrote himself, according to the outlet.
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Copeland spoke with 1819 Newsexplanatory:
“Only my wife knows about it. It’s a hobby I do to relieve stress. I have a lot of stress and am not making the transition for medical reasons. It’s just a type of character that I play. … I don’t go out and look for advertising or anything like that. What I do in private has nothing to do with what I do in my holy life. Does it affect me as mayor that I sometimes put on a dress or sometimes put on makeup? Does this have anything to do with me being mayor or pastor?”
However, the 62-year-old died during a welfare check just two days after this initial report surfaced online Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Apparently officers were pursuing his car around 5 p.m. when “he exited the vehicle, produced a handgun and took his own life.”
How completely devastating.
1819 News reported that Copeland asked them not to out him, but they did anyway. He also didn’t seem to hold any anti-LGBT stance that could be seen as hypocritical, which makes the whole situation all the more heartbreaking. How do people still date others in 2023? WTF! As we just saw, this isn’t just a headline – it’s a matter of life and death.
Our hearts hurt so much for Copeland’s loved ones. Unfortunately, he left behind a wife and three children.
Rest in peace, Bubba.
[Image via F.L. “Bubba” Copeland/Facebook]
