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Blake Brockington, advocate for sexual minorities, dies in apparent suicide

Blake Brockington spoke with the Observer in recent months about the challenges of his journey as a transgender person. Brockington died this week from an apparent suicide.
Blake Brockington spoke with the Observer in recent months about the challenges of his journey as a transgender person. Brockington died this week from an apparent suicide. John D. Simmons jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

Blake Brockington, a transgender man who advocated for the rights of sexual minorities, died of an apparent suicide overnight, according to police and Time Out Youth.

Brockington, 18, was known as a girl until his sophomore year at East Mecklenburg High. He spoke of the difficulties of growing up transgender in Charlotte in a January story in the Observer. He said it was so difficult growing up that he moved in with a foster family and got counseling before transitioning to being Blake.

Last year, he was crowned East Meck’s homecoming king while running as an openly transgender student.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized. Cleve R. Wootson Jr.

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