Just a few thoughts.
My first impression upon re-reading the notes after some time was that this may have been an individual struggling with their sexuality or gender identity... Gender dysphoria was treated back then primarily by trying to force the affected individual into identifying with their biological sex, and I don't think I need to explain how that could drive someone to suicide.
I wonder if he came down for Mardi Gras. In 1975 it was held on Feb 11th. It was known to be big for gays to go to Mardi Gras. People wore costumes and hid behind masks and came from all over. Maybe something he had hoped for did not happen or maybe something did happen and he was afraid of completely coming out as it was not accepted then. Maybe afraid to shame his family or later on getting violently attacked and killed.
BBM.
That’s a very good point! I hadn’t considered that BCJD could’ve been struggling with identity and/or gender dysphoria, but it's certainly a possibility.
Now to combine this theory with the surrounding events at the time...
What if BCJD did come to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras? By February 11th, the celebration had been going on “
for more than two weeks," and “
thousands of visitors” were already there to celebrate. Even
Paul McCartney and his wife were there, “masking as a pair of clowns.”
Is it possible that BCJD came there to find acceptance, but found discrimination instead? Sadly, our community is no stranger to transphobia. Just two years earlier in New York City, transgender activist Sylvia Rivera “
was scorned, booed, and hissed at when she attempted to speak at that year’s liberation march, as the lesbian women who had the stage at the time did not want to allow a drag queen to speak.”
Sylvia herself recalled: “I had to battle my way up on stage, and literally get beaten up and punched around
by people I thought were my comrades, to get to that microphone.” (emphasis mine)
Could BCJD have witnessed something like this, or experienced it personally? If so, how discouraging that would’ve been! Not feeling accepted by your family, friends, school, hometown, your own body, and now not even your own community.
Since the anniversary is just two weeks away, is there any way of getting coverage again in local media outlets? Or if that’s too soon, maybe on March 1st, when Mardi Gras falls this year?
