Gay leader, 19, dies in apparent suicide

SUMMARY: Brad Matthew Fuglei, a 19-year-old who organized gay rights rallies at his high school in Omaha, died in an apparent suicide last Friday. Brad Matthew Fuglei, a 19-year-old who organized gay rights rallies at his high school in Omaha, Neb., died in an apparent suicide last Friday, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Family, friends and members of the community were reportedly "bewildered" as to why the talented, upbeat 2001 graduate of North High School would take his life. Omaha police report that Fuglei was found by his mother in the driver's seat of his car, which was parked in the garage and running. A suicide note was found in the house, but details were not released. Fuglei reportedly came out at the age of 14, and he worked with several Gay Straight Alliances in area schools. Last year he participated in an unsuccessful attempt to add sexual orientation to a nondiscrimination policy in the Millard school district. In 1998, the World-Herald published a feature article on Fuglei and his organizing of a local vigil in memory of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who had been brutally murdered in Wyoming. At North High School, Fuglei was senior class president and elected homecoming king last year. He performed in several theatrical productions and was a member of the National Honor Society. By Tuesday, dozens of postings on the World-Herald Web site paid tribute to the young man's talents and kindness; many also expressed shock over his death. Andrea Flanagan, a Creighton University law student who didn't know Fuglei, wrote: "We should all be extremely concerned about what we have lost here. We as individuals, we as strangers, we as a community. We have lost a bright soul, a shining star, someone who made such a difference in his short lifetime yet has left us wondering � what could have been?" Police ask friends of gay man's killer to come forward.

Fuglei Family Plans To Ignore Protest

OMAHA, Neb. -- The family of a teenager who is the focus of an anti-gay protest scheduled for Friday said they plan to ignore the protesters. Video Brad's Family Talks To KETV Brad Fuglei (pictured, right) was an openly gay student at North High School. His classmates told KETV NewsWatch 7 that he was a popular student and was elected to the student council. Fuglei graduated from the school in May, but he took his own life the week before Thanksgiving. "He was a beautiful kid and I think he did know it. Maybe he was just confused," his brother Scott Fuglei said. "He was openly gay and happy and didn't have a problem with that and no one else did either." On Friday, a group of about 20 people is expected to protest Brad's lifestyle outside North High School. The group is led by Fred Phelps (pictured, left), who operates a church in Topeka, Kan. Phelps believes the media has turned Fuglei into a role model. A flier printed by Phelps' group says, "It's not okay to be gay. It will destroy life, damn the soul, and doom the nation." The group plans to start its protests at North High School at about 11 a.m. From there, it will move to Northwest High School, Unity Church and Forest Lawn Cemetery, where Brad is buried. MORE DETAILS Statement From North High School Staff News Release From Westboro Baptist Church The Fuglei family has seen Phelps' Web site. They know Phelps plans to spread hateful messages about gay people on Friday. "I'm happy that in this country you can be an idiot," Scott Fuglei said. The family plans to ignore the protests. Instead, they said they will spend the day focusing on Brad's life and accomplishments. North High School is asking students to also ignore the protesters. Students and faculty are encourage to wear blue and yellow as a peaceful demonstration of unity for their school. The local office of the Anti-Defamation League also wants people to ignore Phelps and his group. The ADL said if nobody pays attention, it will be a wasted trip for the group. "We would urge people not to show up at the places they plan to picket and counter protest. This is exactly what they want," Bob Wolfson of the Anti-Defamation League said. Many of Phelps' supporters are attorneys. They said they would bring video cameras to record any violent retaliation as evidence.