He was only fourteen years old. He had not even begun to see the world, or the opportunity to grow up and become a teenager, nor explore and live out his wildest dreams. Giovanni Melton was killed in his Las Vegas, Nevada home by his father, Wendell Melton, because he could not accept his son’s sexuality. According to Melton’s former foster mother, Sonja Jones, the father said that, “he would rather have a dead son than a gay son.” Jones also claims Melton was mentally, emotionally, and physically abused by Wendell. The police arrested Wendell at the home of Giovanni on November 3rd.
It is truly sad that a father would take his own son’s life, especially a young blossoming teenager who was coming into his own. This expresses the importance and need for a serious and important conversation around sex, and sexuality. Let’s hope the dialogue begins soon!
You can read the entire story here: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/nevada-father-murdered-son-being-gay-former-foster-mom-claims-n817906
