Several Black celebrities pitched in to make sure Nigel Shelby had a proper homegoing celebration.
TMZ reports Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, Ludacris and Janelle Monáe donated funds toward the 15-year-old’s funeral.
Shelby committed suicide on April 18, as Blavity previously reported. The donation effort was led by Lena Waithe and Slutty Vegan restaurateur Pinky Cole.
Shelby was laid to rest on April 27. His casket was covered in rainbows and pictures of his smiling face. Funeral attendees showed up in rainbow colors to honor the teenager.
Nigel Shelby laid to rest in rainbow colored casket as family wore pride colors https://t.co/KnbqXx3Wms
pic.twitter.com/NZRoyaNsgG— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 30, 2019
The openly gay teen suffered from depression and experienced bullying from his peers.
"Coming out at such a young age, it can be hard," his mother, Camika, said in April. "You never know if you're going to be accepted. He didn't know if I was going to accept it — that's my child I love him."
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Despite his openness, Nigel struggled with his identity.
"I wish he could have been fully accepted while he was here because it was hard for him. He struggled," Camika told ABC. "He used to ask me sometimes 'Mama, why couldn't I just be normal?' And I'm like, 'Baby, you are normal. Who you choose to love has nothing to do with the person that you are.'"
Ahead of the burial, Camika expressed her wishes for her son’s legacy.
"I don't want him to be remembered as a kid that was bullied for being gay and took his own life," she said. "He was sunshine. He was such a good spirit to have around. It breaks my heart because I feel like he had so much love to give."
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