"Tragic Suicides and Lessons Learned: Reflections on Alabama's Dark Days"

F.L. "Bubba" Copeland, a preacher and politician from Alabama, took his own life after being outed as a drag queen online. Copeland had confided in a friend about his "dark days" following the publication of a news story featuring photos of his alter ego. Prior to his death, another story was published alleging that Copeland wrote violent fantasy fiction and posted photos of people from the community without their consent. Authorities conducted a welfare check on Copeland, but he ultimately shot himself when deputies attempted to pull him over. Friends and church members are mourning his death and condemning the online mockery he faced.