Ray Toro, former My Chemical Romance lead guitarist, and now solo artist since last year, has released his latest track for free and dedicated it to Leelah Alcorn, the Ohio transgender teen who took her own life last week in a suicide that has rocked the world.

Approaching 300,000 people have signed a Change.org petition to end the conversion therapy that Leelah was subjected to rather than the gender therapy and transition she requested.

Although the song, “For The Lost And Brave”, was written “about a year ago”, there are many lyrics that are spot on for Leelah and other trans and LGB youth who feel forced to hide and deny who they are:

“Something in my head
Tells me I’m nothing…
Always been afraid
Of who I am
Forced to hide away”

Toro writes on his blog that there were “many times that I’ve almost put it out, but have always found a reason to hold it back.” He continues:

“lately there seems to be so much hate and misunderstanding in this world. As I’m sure many of you felt after reading the news of young Leelah Alcorn taking her own life, my heart sank. I felt sick. Yet another young life gone because of not being heard, not being understood, and not being unconditionally loved for who they truly were. After hearing her story, and reading her final Tumblr post, I finally felt it was time to share this song. It is time we learn to accept each other for who we truly are. Being seen, heard, and truly loved as our authentic selves is something we all want, and something we all deserve.”

Leelah’s final Tumblr post has been deleted along with her social media account at her parents request, but can be viewed here:

The song also signals an awareness of those lost, those who continue to face life and all its sometimes brutal challenges, and those who are left behind in grief – something that various commentators have found hard to balance amidst all the highly-charged emotions of the last week:

“For the lost and brave
For the ones who stayed
For the ones we left behind”

On Soundcloud the track has already prompted 160+ comments and led some to tears, many from appreciative LGBTQ+ youth.

A poignant comment under a Youtube upload of the song said:

“This song has given me hope where I was sure all was lost. There is not enough acceptance in the world, and since I heard about Leelah, being buried in a suit under a headstone engraved with ‘Joshua’, her mother stating that she “loved her son”, I thought there never would be. But seeing so much outrage, so many people speaking out, and now hearing this, I think there could be. There might be a way we could fix this, just as she said, “Fix society. Please.” I think we can. So thank you, Ray. And Leelah, Rest In Power, you beautiful girl.”

“The song is absolutely beautiful”, writes Under the Gun Review, “giving assurance and comfort to those that need someone. It’s really freaking good.”

Gigwise reporter, Andy Morris, says that “Toro’s lyrics perfectly articulate an alienated teenager’s perspective”.

‘For the Lost and Brave’ Lyrics

The lyrics of “For the Lost and Brave”, by Ray Toro, in full:

Walking in the rain
The feeling comes again
Something in my head
Tells me I’m nothing

Sorry and ashamed
All the lies I couldn’t face
Always been afraid
Of who I am

Forced to hide away
Nothing is wrong
They say
Leave it alone
And it will go away

For the lost and brave
For the lonely strays
For the ones we left behind
Far away
Don’t ask me why

For the lost and brave
For the ones who stayed
For the ones we left behind
Far away from you we run
Do not ask why

The choice I didn’t make
This isn’t a mistake
The man beyond the glasses
Girl you’re something

The sun will rise again
All the clouds inside my head
Clear away
I know just who I am

I won’t hide away
Overcome your hate
Shield it alone
Let the people say

For the lost and brave
For the lonely strays
For the ones we left behind
Far away
Don’t ask me why

For the lost and brave
For the ones who stayed
For the ones we left behind
Far away from you we run
Do not ask why

Why we hate
A different state of mind and heart
It’s gone on far too long
We are here to say

For the lost and Brave
For the lonely strays
For the ones we left behind
Far away
Don’t ask me why

For the lost and brave
For the ones who stayed
For the ones we left behind
Far away from you we run
Do not ask why

Why
We learn to not ask why
Why
We learn to not ask why
Why
We don’t ask why