Shock over the suicide of a valley teen.
EricJames Borges volunteered his time to try and prevent other gay teens from committing suicide. He took his own life.
Just one month ago, he recorded a video about the bullying he endured growing up.
“I was verbally, physically and emotionally assaulted on a day-to-day basis for my perceived sexual orientation,” EricJames told the camera.
He called his video ‘It Gets Better.’
He says he came out as a gay man a little over a year ago.
He wasn’t accepted by everyone. “My mother knew I was gay and performed an exorcism on me to try and cure me,” he said in ‘It Gets Better.’
EricJames says his parents kicked him out of the house two months ago.
He found acceptance and a direction as a young film maker and student at College of the Sequoias in
A faculty advisor talked to him just before winter break and he seemed to be doing well.
"I'm broken that this happened. He was a beautiful, beautiful person. I never met anyone who met EricJames who didn't think he was the most gentle, beautiful soul,” said Chris Mangels, a professor at C.O.S.
In his film ‘Invisible Creatures,’ EricJames showed couple embracing and ended with the message: Love is universal.
News of the young film maker’s death has been reported in the Washington Post and Huffington Post. But it is felt the strongest in the gay community here in the valley.
“Whether we're gay, straight, different backgrounds and cultures, we have to remember to speak to each other with kindness and compassion,” said Scotti Maldonado with Equality California.
EricJames’ video has received more than 95-thousand views on YouTube.
His final message to those struggling with thoughts of suicide:
“Don't ever give up and not think that you're a beautiful and valuable contribution to this world. It gets better. With love, from EricJames.
College of the Sequoias plans to hold a remembrance for EricJames when school starts up again next week.
For more information on The Trevor Project: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ and to watch EricJames’ video ‘It Gets Better’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=InWhEIaCFkg