Posted on 06/07/2019 9:49:29 AM PDT by Red Badger
Dante Austin was a deputy with the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office and was an LGBTQ activist. Austin was found dead at his desk on June 7. He was 27 years old.
The tragic news of Austin’s passing was broken by fellow LGBTQ activist and Pennsylvania State Rep, Brian Sims. Sims tweeted on the morning of June 7, “Philadelphia’s LGBTQ community lost one of our best & brightest last night! Dante Austin was one of the strongest & kindest champions for equality I’ve ever met. He lifted up everyone he touched. He supported everyone who needed him. He cared deeply & loved loudly.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing police sources, said that Austin’s death appeared to be a suicide. Austin was found in the sheriff’s office, located at 11 South Broad Street. The Inquirer report said that Austin’s body was found at around 6:45 a.m.
Rest In Peace, Dante Austin.
This is was very unexpected and devastating. But I hope community will remember you for your compassion and dedication.
Gone too soon, I will remember when you first came to the scene a few years ago.https://t.co/aego6p1CsO
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) June 7, 2019
According to his LinkedIn account, Austin joined the sheriff’s office in November 2013 and in the summer of 2016, he was promoted to the department’s LGBT Liaison. Prior to his time in the sheriff’s office, Austin served six years in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence systems maintainer and integrator. In addition, Austin was also an instructor in cultural diversity at the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute between August 2014 and July 2016.
Austin had studied electronic technology at Cochise College, justice administration at Rosemount College and was in the process of studying for a qualification in public administration at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Speaking to the Inquirer, the executive director of the William Way LGBT Community Center, Chris Bartlett, said of Austin, “Dante was a big-hearted, community-oriented, dedicated leader who was a pioneer in bringing LGBT sensitivity to the Sheriff’s Office. He’s part of a generation of young LGBT leaders of color who are taking the reins from my generation. He’s an irreplaceable loss. We’ll aim to have a Pride Weekend that is worthy of his legacy, but it will be difficult.” Bartlett also mentioned that a memorial to Austin will be held at 3 p.m. on June 7.
When leisure suits first came out, I got a jump suit that had “Dallas Cowboys” printed above the left pocket. Some weirdo asked me if I’d get in trouble wearing it. I said, “No, I play for the Cowboys.”
Looking skeptically at me, he asked, “What do you play?”
“Guitar,” I replied.
They don’t say how it committed suicide.
For him to do this at work may indicate that he had work related stress, but as a sheriff, who wouldn’t have that?
Resume-wise, he seemed very experienced and qualified. Was training for his next promotion.
Now, he has traumatized not only his friends and family, but that entire police station. Some contemplate suicide as a way of ‘punishing’ the survivors with a burden of guilt.
Not enough info to know that here.
Doing it ‘at work’ is significant.
He may have wanted the department to be traumatized...........
Good news just keeps on coming.
Even in Sweden an The Netherlands LGBT people have much higher rates of suicide, drug abuse, and comorbid mental health issues.
While Philly always votes D, it’s not a “sensitive” place. Philadelphia is mostly Black, macho, and violent. No one I know here cares about pole smokers and scissor dykes.
Mentally ill...normalization of it is not curative....
Most homosexuals were sexually molested as children and the continued behavior is a coping mechanism that fails to resolve the inner conflict between the learned behavior and the natural desire for heterosexual relationships.
They do tend to suicide themselves much more than straight people. Mental illness.
So he went into the Army when he was 15? The numbers work as well as this queer's life did.
So he went into the Army when he was 15? The numbers work as well as this queer's life did.
My brother did, Navy. Of course he was 6 ft tall, so nobody asked................
Obviously all who don’t have a letter in “LGBTQXYZ” are to blame.
We think that we are doing these people a favor by pretending that they are normal and need no help medically, psychologically, or spiritually. I’m fact, we are aiding them in their self-destruction.
When all you have is emotion without benefit of reason, you are heading for a disaster..........
Seems like a lot of homosexual folks die of that.
Odd.....very odd.....no clue................
The hidden self hate homosexuals have for themselves often shows itself in suicide. No pride in killing yourself.
I hope he repented....his obvious mental illness....
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