Destinee Lashaee, Trans Star on My 600-lb Life, Has Died

[left-of-center2012]

Destinee Lashaee, the first transgender contestant on the TLC reality show 'My 600-lb Life', has died. No cause of death has been reported, but Lashaee had shared on social media that she was deeply depressed.

Lashaee, who appeared on the show in 2019, had recently posted messages indicative of her depression and possibly suicidal thoughts. “If I was surrounded by all my tears I’d be floating in the ocean,” she posted last week. A message from Saturday read,

“To everyone who genuinely love and support me I love you and I’m grateful to have touched millions of lives and hearts around the world. Living my life with so much pain for so long I’ve come to realize that God makes no mistakes. I’m grateful for my journey and all I’ve been through. I don’t regret a single moment. Love you all.”

Her brother Wayne Compton posted about her death Tuesday, The U.S. Sun reports.

“I’m sorry bro, I accept you for who you are, I accept every flaw that come with you, I’m sorry you felt alone, I’m sorry you felt you had nobody else to turn too, I’m sorry you felt you had no other option,” Compton wrote on Facebook.

Lashaee weighed 669 pounds when she went on the show, which details the weight-loss efforts of contestants who weigh 600 pounds or more. She ended up losing nearly 500 pounds after her season on the show. She spoke about her mental health struggles on the program, the Sun notes.

“I feel like all I’m constantly doing is trying to escape my depression and paint at this point,” she said on the show. “Food is the only thing I can turn to to do that. I can feel it killing me. There is no way I’m going to survive for much longer.” She was only 27 at the time.

https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2022/2/09/destinee-lashaee-1st-trans-contestant-my-600-lb-life-has-died

[vercetti2021]

1. So sad

And the fact her brother called her bro after she had taken her life? The actual fucking shit? Misgender her after she dies. Asshole.

RIP lovely

[IngridsLittleAngel]

2. Very sad indeed

And that caught my eye too.. Saying "I accept you for how you are" - after calling her "bro". No, because if he did accept her, he wouldn't be calling her "bro" like that. Makes me wonder what other things he may have said while she was alive.

Stuff like that just upsets me. It takes no effort and costs nothing to call people by the name they want or the pronouns they identify with. And if he can't do so in death, it makes me doubt he did it for her in life.

Another trans person, gone way too soon. Feeling that the only way to end their pain is to no longer live.

How many more? When does it stop?

May she rest in peace.

[vercetti2021]

3. Sadly that is depression

I survived twice. Once at 17 and another at 25. Sadly even HRT can't save someone from being depressed. Sometimes it's the only way out. But sadly it won't stop. We'll still die from either being murdered or suicide. We just gotta be strong enough to prevent both. You and I cannot be part of the statistic.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

4. So true, sadly

Depression is its own monster. Absolutely, gender dysphoria can feed into it, and, HRT alone won't get rid of it. Obviously, it was depression that broke Destinee - and we may never know how much of being trans contributed to it. But it sure breaks my heart to see another one of our sisters or brothers gone - either from their own hand, or someone else's.

You're right that we all need to be strong and look out for each other and do all we can to not become a statistic.

[vercetti2021]

5. I'm still depressed

I have it bad some days since I'm usually alone mostly now. My support group all moved away to different states last year and the only one doesn't support me, he's a big piece of shit misogynist and well turning into an incel fast it seems.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

6. I've dealt with it a lot lately myself..

I've managed to find an online support group, thank goodness. I'd probably be in huge trouble right now without them.

I am hopefully 2 1/2 months away from starting HRT and specialized counseling. Maybe even sooner if there's some openings in the appointment book between now and then. Not a moment too soon. I wish that could've happened decades ago.

That does make it tough when the supportive ones move away and the ones still around... are not so much. Something I've dealt with too much of in my life as well. And sounds like the one remaining person really needs to turn off the TV news and quit going down internet rabbit holes. :/

Hang in there, and don't hesitate to DM me if you need someone to talk to or at least listen.