Professional life and personal life are two different things, and cannot be related.
But sometimes, the society cannot adhere to that, and this can be a problem to the individual.
The mayor of a small town in Alabama, a southeastern U.S. state that’s home to significant landmarks from the American Civil Rights Movement, told his friend that he was living through "dark days."
He said this after a conservative blog outed the mayor as a crossdresser, mere days before his apparent suicide.
Fred L. "Bubba" Copeland, the mayor of Smiths Station, shot himself in front of law enforcement, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
It all happened after right-wing outlet, 1819 News, published an article about Copeland's “secret life.”
In it, it's said that Copeland is using the nickname "Brittini Blaire Summerlin," that he allegedly posted photos that included explicit photos of himself, as well as graphic memes and transgender pornography.
Copeland personally asked the blog to not reveal anything for the sake of his family. He also begged the blog to not dox him for the sake of his role as a pastor at a church in Phenix City.
Copeland claimed that his as behavior as a "transgender curvy girl" was only a "hobby" for "getting rid of stress."
But the blog's editor Breitbert and contributor Jeff Poor published the post anyway.
The initial story allegedly showed a number of social media accounts allegedly operated by Copeland, in which he identified as a transgender woman.
Through the social media accounts, Copeland also shared photos of himself wearing women’s underwear.
When the news went viral, Phenix City School Superintendent Larry DiChiara said that he decided to reach Copeland
People were "just relentlessly attacking" him, he said.
Authorities said that a welfare check was called into the sheriff’s office on Friday, and two deputies found Copeland driving on a county road.
After the deputies managed to get him to pull over, Copeland, who got out of his car, took his own life.
He was 49 when he shot himself with a handgun
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said that the law enforcement had "no idea" Copeland would do so, and went prepared to witness the tragic incident.
"It’s just tragic all the way around," he said.
"It was the day before he passed away," DiChiara said.
"I said: 'Bubba, keep your head up. You’re a good man with a great heart. Don’t ever forget that. Call me if you need me.'"
DiChiara said Copeland thanked him and said: "'It’s been some dark days.'" As a close friend, DiChiara reassured Copeland that it "will pass."
But the pressure was so much that Copeland took his own life out of shame.
Copeland shot himself in a suicide, two days after the article was published.
In his final sermon, it's said that Copeland had been the "object of an internet attack," and that it's explained that he had taken "pictures with my wife in the privacy of our home in an attempt of humor, because I know I’m not a handsome man nor a beautiful woman, either."
Copeland then went on to apologize for "any embarrassment caused by my private and personal life."
He also thanked people who had contacted him with messages of support.
"I love my family, they’re number one, and again I’m sorry for what my actions have caused," he added.
DiChiara said Copeland’s son "is taking it pretty tough."
Copeland is also survived by a wife and two daughters, according to an obituary shared on his church’s Facebook page.
On the the day of Copeland's death, 1819 News published another story, alleging that Copeland wrote violent fiction stories, and also posted photos online of people in his local community without their consent.
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