Some teens' sexual identity struggles end tragically

[Shana A]

Some teens' sexual identity struggles end tragically
Posted at 11:12 PM on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010
By Tracy Correa / The Fresno Bee

http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/12/18/2203524/some-valley-teens-sexual-identity.html

But even where there is family acceptance, teens like Justin "Chloe Anne" Lacey still struggle.

Justin grew up in conservative Clovis and graduated from Buchanan High School in 2009. He liked snowboarding, hunting and fishing and was the only child of a single mom, Allison Murphy.

There were typical teen struggles between mother and son, including confrontations over his marijuana use. Justin also had bouts of anxiety.

He had confided in his mother that he felt different but could never really pinpoint why.

It wasn't until he was about 16 that she learned more: Justin wrote a letter asking her to buy him girls' clothing. He wrote it at the suggestion of an online doctor he had asked for help.