"Tragic Suicide of Alabama Mayor Exposes the Perils of Public Outing"
F.L. "Bubba" Copeland, the mayor of Smiths Station, Alabama, took his own life after a conservative website published pictures of him cross-dressing and engaging in erotic fiction writing. The website, 1819 News, released articles revealing Copeland's private life, including photos and fictional stories, without his consent. The act of outing a person's private life without permission can be extremely harmful, according to experts. Copeland was known for his contributions to the city's growth and development, including leading it through the COVID-19 pandemic and a deadly tornado outbreak. His death has sparked grief, confusion, and anger within the community.
- An Alabama mayor ended his life after a website showed pictures of him cross-dressing NPR
- Alabama mayor's apparent suicide underscores the dangers of outing NBC News
- Alabama Mayor Told Friends He Was in 'Dark Days' After Being Outed as Cross-Dresser The Daily Beast
- Opinion | Smiths Station mayor's suicide should serve as a lesson for all of us Alabama Political Reporter
- Opinion | Media must scrutinize power, not police morality Alabama Political Reporter
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