Trans student found hanged after filing complaint about bullying
A transgender student hung herself less than a week after she made an official complaint about bullying over her gender identity.
Gabriel Tinto, 51, was a mature student at Wiltshire College. She vented frustration about the insults she was receiving on her social media just a few days before she took her life.
She posted on Facebook: “Getting frustrated about my voice again, it’s the first thing people judge me by and instantly marks me as trans and the most common reason my gender is questioned.
“So isolating and nothing I can do to change it. I feel hopeless and angry about it, I’m instantly judged and there is nothing I can do to make people see further.”
“I got more abuse Wednesday and I am having issues because of it. I am starting to believe the insults. I am tired and I can’t see a happy ever after.”
Amanda Burnside, principal of the college, said everyone was saddened by the news and confirmed that an official complaint had been by Tinto about bullying.
She said: “The college was investigating the complaint and had emailed Gabriel with an update on Thursday, unaware of what had happened.”
Her body was found hanged from a tree by dog walkers. Her death is not being treated as suspicious.
A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “Police are not treating the death as suspicious however enquiries are ongoing and a file will be prepared on behalf of H M Coroner for Wiltshire. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.”
