Man Bullied for Being Open About Trans Relationship Dies by Suicide

A man who was bullied in a viral video for his relationship with a trans woman has now died by suicide.

A number of LGBTQ blogs mourned the death of Maurice Willoughby, first reported at Aazios. The 20-year-old Philadelphia man, also know as "Reese Him Daddie," defended his relationship in a widely viewed Facebook post. There, he also defended his girlfriend, Faith.

"Y'all can say whatever about faith I really don't care if she not passable I don't care if she wasn't born a woman she is a woman to me & I love her flaws that's what makes her faith if you heard her story it's motivating..... I'm happy you should be happy for me," Willoughby wrote online.

The story went viral in a recent video where individuals confronted him in the streets about his relationship and filmed the interactions.

Friends said online that after the video gained traction online, Willoughby slipped into a depression.

"That was my friend and everyone who took part in bulling him need to be in jail," Amethyst Jade Lee wrote in a Facebook post.

Aazios also quoted a friend of Willoughby's, who chose to remain anonymous, saying judgment over his relationship played a role in the death.

"He was getting picked on and joked on all the time," the friend said. "Where we are from, if you like trans woman, and you black, the streets will talk about you, fight you, even try to kill you."

"He was dealing with a lot," the friend continued.

If you are a trans or gender-nonconforming person considering suicide, Trans Lifeline can be reached at (877) 565-8860. LGBTQ youth (ages 24 and younger) can reach the Trevor Project Lifeline at (866) 488-7386. You can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 can be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities.