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Also a pastor, "shot himself in front of police during a welfare check." It also appears that his wife was aware and involved with the hobby (not with the suicide), presumably in a supporting way.

I may disagree very strongly with this guy's politics, but fuck the assholes who make this shameful.

@Poutinetown quotes from the article:

... even though it does not appear [Copeland] had taken any public positions against LGBTQ issues that could be construed as hypocritical.

Do we know if he was anti-trans? It's super sad that he had to actually kill himself because he couldn't be himself. The GOP has created a really shitty life for a lot of people.

This comment section is hilarious. Some people are praising his suicide simply because he was a part of the republican party, while others are saying that "no one deserves being bullied for being trans" yet what everyone seems to miss is this guy was a grade A pervert who was posting pictures of real children in his transition fetish memes that he posted online. He also stalked a local business woman and wrote erotica about taking over her life and becoming her through hormones and surgery then murdering her and replacing her. A real woman btw.

So much cognitive dissonance in this thread and I'm here for it.

Read up what he did here https://1819news.com/news/item/to-say-i-was-a-stalker-would-be-a-bit-of-an-understatement-curvy-transgender-smiths-station-mayor-copeland-wrote-fiction-about-murdering-real-life-local-businesswoman-assuming-her-identity

Christianity once again demonstrates it's outstanding moral virtues.

What a waste. Regardless of his political affiliations, it's sad that someone got bullied so hard that they decided to take their own life. It's what we fight for in the LGBTQ community and beyond- so nobody feels that their life is over if discovered. Nor should it be a big deal, regardless. It's what we've been fighting for since the Lavender Scare, and we'll keep fighting for a general sense of normalcy for everyday Americans, regardless of political orientation.

I think it's a good reminder that one of Hitler's closest "friends" and instrumental in the rise to power of the nazi party, was executed in the night of the Long knives. Ernst Rohm was publicly known to be gay. Due to this close relationship with Hitler, they determined it would weaken Hitler's image.

Copeland certainly won't be the last GOP casualty due to their bigoted policies.

Hours before Copeland’s death, Hemant Mehta, who runs the popular religion blog Friendly Atheist, noted that Copeland did not appear to have bigoted views toward transgender people or people who simply enjoy cross-dressing.

“There’s a story making the rounds about an Alabama preacher/mayor who secretly dresses in drag and adopts the persona of a trans woman on social media,” Mehta tweeted. “The problem? It’s not clear he’s a hypocrite. If he’s not a bigot, why is he being outed?”

https://www.mediaite.com/news/mayor-commits-suicide-after-conservative-website-publishes-photos-of-him-in-womens-clothing/

Guys, he not only was a Republican, he was a Baptist preacher. He aligned himself with these two LGBTQ hater groups.

Maybe he joined the GOP and the Baptist denomination in an attempt to shield his lifestyle, but he willingly belonged to these two groups which both actively HATE LGBTQ and condemn his very lifestyle.

I have a lot of sympathy for people who feel they must disguise their true selves in order to protect themselves...and I respect that he tried to reach out and offer support to others online.

But I'm hearing some very disturbing 'rumors' that he posted hateful, stalking, character assassination of particular people online. And accusations of child porn.

I'm going to reserve my sympathy for him for now, until the whole truth is known.

Really sad that he didn’t feel it was ok to be himself and chose to end his life.

Queer man surprised when anti-queer party he's joined deems him a target. More non-news at 11.

Leopards…leopards.

But, but, but, I didn't think the leopards were going to eat MY FACE!!!

/shockedpikachuemoji

I hate Republicans for all they do and stand for, but nobody kills themselves just for fun. This guy was mentally ill (aside from being in the GOP) and got pushed over the brink by an asshole.

You don't have to be sad about his death, but suicide is not normal and should never be encouraged like some here basically do.

Fascism eats its own

So the man who dressed in women's clothing supported the party that hates men who dress in woman's clothing. Hard to have much empathy.

That guy killed himself because his political career was over, all his work, all his grift, to the trash. So I doubt it was for bullying entirely.

A pastor would have concocted some bullshit about being possessed by the devil, and sell hard the repentant image.