While there is no doubt that the parents of transgender teenager Leelah Alcorn of Warren County in Ohio loved their child, the lack of support for Leelah's gender preference made the teen extremely lonely and unacceptable which led to suicide by walking into traffic on Sunday.

Part of Alcorn's suicide note posted on her Tumblr account, quoted by WLWT.com, reads: "The only way I will rest in peace is, if one day transgender people aren't treated the way I was. They're treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights."

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Alcorn wrote that she came out to her mother who reacted negatively in Leelah's perception when she said it was a phase she was going through and she would never become a true girl and "that God doesn't make mistakes, that I am wrong."

The post became viral and many criticized her parents, with one columnist even pushing for their prosecution for child abuse.

On Wednesday, Leelah's mother Carla told CNN that while they don't support the gender change for religious reasons, they love him unconditionally. Doug, Leelah's father, echoed what his wife said and wrote to WCPO, a local news station, to tell the community that they love Joshua and are devastated by his death.

However, the continued reference to Leelah's male gender at birth and the use of masculine pronouns when referring to their child is wrong, said Johanna Olson, medical director of the Center of Trans Youth Health and Development at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

She pushed for parents to listen to their gender-confused children and challenges them with the question if "they'd rather have an alive daughter or a dead son."

The suicide attempt rate among transgenders is high at 41 percent, according to statistics.

However, the Alcorns would rather not debate with people whom they say don't really know their child and would instead spend the time to grieve in private.

To push for support better treatment of transgenders, "Stand Up for Leelah" candlelight vigils have been organized by gay groups and are scheduled in Columbus on Friday night, in London's Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon and at Kings High School, where Leelah studied, on Saturday night.

TagsLeelah Alcorn, Transgender suicide