father who didn’t want to have a gay son kills his 14-year-old child

Toxic masculinity kills.

That was literally the case in a tragic story out of Henderson, Nevada last week, when 14-year-old Giovanni Melton was murdered in cold blood by his own father, Wendell Melton, allegedly for appearing to be gay.

“He hated the fact that his son was gay,” Giovanni’s former foster mother told 3 News about Wendell. “I’m sure that inside of his mind, he would rather have a dead son than a gay son,”

Neighbors told the station that they heard a heated argument, followed by gun shots.

“Giovanni was abused physically and mentally and spiritually for many, many years,” Giovanni’s former foster mom added, explaining that Wendell had previously drawn a gun on his son after walking in on him and a boyfriend.

Can you imagine being so insecure in your own masculinity, that you kill your son for not embracing it?

Can you imagine being so fearful of the queerness in your blood, that you wipe it out when it manifests in your children?

This is what toxic masculinity is. This is what it does.

Wendell Melton is facing charges of murder, child abuse, and prohibited possession of a firearm. Nevada law also permits charging these acts as a hate crime.