Henry Berg-Brousseau, trans rights advocate and son of Kentucky senator, dies at 24

Henry Berg-Brousseau, the transgender rights advocate who sparked his opposition to transgender-restrictive laws in Kentucky, has died. he was 24 years old.

Berg-Brousseau passed away on Friday. his mother said, State Senator Karen Berg. He “suffered from mental illness for a long time because he was born not because he was transgender, but because he was not accepted,” she said in a news release.

A native of Arlington, Virginia, Berg-Brousseau was the deputy political press secretary for Human Rights Campaign, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy groups.

“Henry was first and foremost a fighter and an advocate. He fought for trans rights as a teenager in Kentucky. Much earlier than he had to. It was,” said HRC Chairman Kelly Robinson. said in a statement“As part of his work at HRC, he faces anti-transgender criticism every day, and no one is aware of the harm anti-transgender rhetoric, messages, and laws can do to his community. did not.

His mother, a Democrat from Louisville, said her son had finally found a community, but “it didn’t undo the disintegration he was already feeling.”

Berg spoke out about his son during the legislative process and opposed a Kentucky bill aimed at restricting transgender rights. This is similar to what has been passed by Republican state legislatures across the country, including his 2022 Kentucky law limiting the ability of transgender girls and women to participate in school sports.

In a news release, Berg said, “Routinely at work, Henry found hateful, demeaning, anti-transgender messages spreading across the country and focused on his workplace.” The growing hate across this country was haunting him, and in one of our last conversations he wondered if it was safe to walk down the street.”

Berg, a Louisville physician and professor who was elected to the state senator for the first time in 2020, said of his son: spent his life “We work to spread grace, compassion, and understanding to all.” , and have real-world implications for how they are treated as they try to live their lives.”

“If there’s one question, it’s practicing generosity and graciousness,” Berg said. “Try to love your neighbor.”

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or is in danger of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).



https://www.cbsnews.com/news/henry-berg-brousseau-dies-age-24-transgender-rights-advocate-suicide/ Henry Berg-Brousseau, trans rights advocate and son of Kentucky senator, dies at 24

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