Elke Parker knew her son was special. But it wasn't until his death did she find out the extent of his talents. "I am. I am who I am. I am the person you see. I would not change who I am for anybody," she read to us from part of Sean's writing called "I am."
There was another poem she found in Sean's things called "Grin." "I stand tall with all of my pride. You hate. You discriminate all who are not like you. Yes, your words do hurt. But I stand in the end. I'm a strong person, bigger than you... I'll be standing there with a grin." "I didn't know I had a poet," Elke said.
What she did know what that her son was handsome, talented, fun-loving and different. "When Sean told me he was gay, he said mom, I understand if you don't want to love me anymore. I told him there is nothing, ever, that you can do to make me stop loving him," she told us. Sean was her third child, the baby of the family, and Elke says every one was behind him. They wanted him to be what he felt inside. "I never thought that who Sean was, is what would take his life," Elke said.
The family believes it was hate behind the blows thrown outside Brew's. Federal and local law enforcement agents are still trying to figure out if 18-year-old Steven Andrew Moller will be charged with a hate crime in the death. He has already been charged with murder.
"You never think to talk to your son about do you want to be cremated or do you want to be buried?" Elke said.
The last week has pushed this mother, to almost break. "I can't believe how much hate there is in this world," she said. Because she says her son was so much more than just a gay man.
"He was a leader. He was a friend. He was just a giver. No matter what you needed, you didn't even have to ask." And it was the giving heart that packed Sean's funeral with almost 700 people. Then there were the ones who couldn't make the service. "On his Myspace we had over 50,000 hits within two days, with messages from people. We knew Sean, we loved Sean, he did this for me, this is how he helped me." A bit of comfort to his mother.
"I am proud that I was his mom. No. I am proud that I am is mom, not was." Pride that will not let her son's spirit fade. So Elke will be pushing for a hate crime bill in South Carolina in Sean's memory. "It may not help Sean today, but I want it to help future victims that they can be assured that there is justice." Justice for Sean.
"If your son or daughter is different, you need to support them for who they really need to be," Elke said.
And who Sean was lives on in his infectious smile. "This young man made such an impact on people's lives. He died way too soon, but, he will be remembered," Elke said.
Sean's family is starting a non-profit called "Sean's Last Wish." They will be selling bracelets and passing out petitions to try and get a hate crime bill passed. In the meantime, the family asks if you'd like to help, write your local and state representatives in support of the bill.
We will keep you updated on when things are finalized with the charity, so you can find out how to help. [ Source ]
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