30/04/2022
Please note that this story may be triggering for some people and caution is advised. LGBTQIA activists from a wide variety of groups within the environmental movement, added their sympathies to the friends of an eco activist called Alan Bruce, who self-immolated on Friday 22nd April, a United Nations marked Earth Day, and who later died of injuries. Mr Bruce was a member of a Buddhist community called Shambala, which is LGBTQIA friendly, and according to Buddhist priest Doctor K Kritee, Bruce set himself alight after careful consideration of the teachings of Buddhists who died by self immolation as a statement against the Vietnam War in the 1960’s. The Independent notes that in 2018, an LGBTQIA advocate who had been active in the marriage equality movement and later environmentalism, David Buckel, also died in this manner. Buckel’s was the first instance of self immolation since the Vietnam movement of the 1960’s. But a close friend of Mr Bruce, April Lyon, warned “my take is that as activists, we have to be careful not to sacrifice ourselves for the cause.” People who are experiencing any ideas of suicide or self harm are encouraged to contact helplines such as the Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK and Republic of Ireland, or LGBT+ Switchboard from 10am to 10pm on 0300 330 0630.
