Rennae Stubbs, the esteemed former coach of tennis legend Serena Williams, recently expressed profound grief over the tragic death of 15-year-old Ethan Henderson. Ethan, a resident of Arkansas, took his own life following severe bullying at school, exacerbated by the exposure of his sexual orientation.
Ethan Henderson, remembered by those who knew him as a compassionate and caring young man, was particularly close to his family and enjoyed helping his elderly neighbors. According to his mother, who spoke to the Los Angeles Blade, Ethan’s troubles intensified after classmates bullied him, cruelly isolating him over baseless health fears. Despite attempts by school authorities to intervene, the bullying persisted. Tragically, Ethan succumbed to the mental anguish inflicted by this relentless harassment.
Reacting to this heart-wrenching incident, Stubbs took to social media platform X to issue a poignant statement. “Please! Take a minute and read this. If you’re a parent of a young kid, try and make them understand, words matter & as parents understand what you say out loud influences your child to act like this. RIP beautiful Ethan💔,” she wrote.
Please! Take a minute and read this. If you’re a parent of a young kid, try and make them understand, words matter & as parents understand what u say out loud influencers your child to act like this. RIP beautiful Ethan💔 . https://t.co/YrS6MG9GW6
— Rennae Stubbs ♈️ (@rennaestubbs) May 1, 2024
Stubbs, who publicly came out as a lesbian in a 2006 interview, has long been an advocate for LGBTQI rights and frequently addresses the importance of sensitivity in media coverage of LGBTQI issues. She believes in the power of education to combat ignorance and fear surrounding diverse sexualities.
Reflecting on her own experiences and those of others, Stubbs has commented on the challenges faced by athletes in revealing their sexual orientations, highlighting the story of India’s Olympic sprinter Dutee Chand, who faced backlash from her own family after coming out in 2019. “It’s scary for any athlete, man or woman, to come out,” Stubbs stated, emphasizing the necessity of normalizing these conversations to reduce the high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies among LGBTQ youth.
Statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and The Trevor Project underscore the mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ youth. According to NAMI, these young individuals are six times more likely to experience depressive symptoms than their non-LGBTQ peers. The Trevor Project’s 2023 survey further revealed that the likelihood of an LGBTQ kid committing suicide in the previous year was three times higher if they reported being bullied.
As Rennae Stubbs continues to champion the cause of young LGBTQ individuals and athletes, her advocacy underscores the critical need for greater acceptance and understanding, aiming to create a more inclusive and supportive society.
