Talented transgender teen commits suicide after years of torment despite encouragement from her hero Lady Gaga

A transgender girl who was inspired after Lady Gaga told her “you can be anything you want to be” took her own life in March.

Jordan Howe, a 19 year-old musician and artist from Lurgan, Ireland, had suffered years of bullying before her death. She was planning to go to university next year.

Both Jordan and her brother were avid Lady Gaga fans, and were in fact invited to meet Gaga on her tour bus in Belfast, February 2010. On board Jordan and her brother became good friends with the superstar, with Gaga taking pictures and videos with the pair and signing clothing and items for them.

Pictured: Lady Gaga holding Jordan’s shoes on her tour bus

Jordan’s brother, a Manchester University student studying International Management, recalls that Lady Gaga had helped inspire Jordan in her courageous decision to become a woman.

“Gaga told Jordan she could be anything she wanted to be. It was so inspiring.”

signed memorabilia from Lady Gaga

Following the meeting, Jordan made the life-changing decision to become a woman, and began taking hormones three years ago with the full support of her friends and family.

During her transformation into a woman Jordan began to take a resemblance to her idol Gaga, but her new appearance and gender quickly became a source of torment and abuse however, as she was bullied by fellow pupils at St Patricks school over her changed gender.

Her brother recalls that the bullying was a huge source of misery for Jordan and that she often confided in him over her depression.

Jordan and her brother pictured here together

He said: “I remember she would ring me all the time upset about people saying nasty things about her. I was often away in Manchester at university and I felt awful when she was upset.

“She would tell me about it and how it was affecting her. People constantly said mean things to her and it made me so sad knowing that people wouldn’t accept her for who she was.

“Although it wasn’t the only reason, I know that the bullying made Jordan very upset- it was definitely a major source of her depression.”

Jordan’s talents as a musician and artist were well known, as she had worked with artist Jared Gelman on several tracks and had ambitions to become a music producer. Her talents were also due to become recognised on a major scale, after being considered to work with Beyonce in future music productions.

Her struggle with her gender and depression were portrayed in her artwork, most notably in one piece in which she painted her own internal struggle of being a woman trapped inside a man’s body.

According to her best friend Taylor Doyle, Jordan’s work “captured the daily struggles that those in the transgender community have to face.”

She added: “Jordan was an amazing human being. I am devastated that my perfect, beautiful friend had to leave us like she did.”

Another friend said: “Jordan pulled me out of dark places and made me realise it was okay to be exactly who I am.”

Jordan’s family and friends described Jordan’s death as a “tragic loss” and said that she will be sorely missed.

Her brother is running a remembrance campaign to raise awareness for people suffering from transgender issues.

The page In Jordan We Trust  is a touching memorial that captures Jordan’s artistic talents and ambitions, whilst also rallying against the intolerance and prejudice that has resulted in many tragedies like Jordan’s.

Hundreds of friends and admirers of Jordan’s work have supported the cause, with #RIPJordanHowe trending on Twitter.