Episode 118: Giovanni Melton (Part 1)

On November 2, 2017, a tearful man called 911, telling the dispatcher he had shot his teenage son. Wendell Melton claimed that during an altercation with his 14-year-old son, Giovanni Melton, his gun accidentally went off, striking Giovanni in the chest. Giovanni was rushed to the hospital, but he did not survive.After Giovanni’s death, multiple people came forward with information indicating the killing was not an accident, instead the deliberate action of a homophobic father who couldn’t tolerate having a gay son.In next week’s episode, we’ll hear from Giovanni’s mom, Veronica Melton, who has channeled her grief and anger into advocating for LGBTQ+ youth of color with the hope of preventing tragedies like her family’s.This is part one of the heartbreaking story of Giovanni Melton. Links discussed in this episode:***Urgent! Please see this post for more information on how to contact Judge Michelle Leavitt before Friday, July 1, 2022 to make your voice heard for Wendell Melton’s sentencing hearing! https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1242273556547448&set=a.121744861933662 ***Giovanni Melton Foundation website: https://giovannimelton.org/ Giovanni Melton Foundation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiovanniMeltonFoundation.org/Giovanni Melton Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giovannimeltonfoundation/?hl=enPFLAG: https://pflag.org National Black Justice Coalition: https://nbjc.orgCounter Narrative Project: https://thecounternarrative.org Strong Family Alliance: https://strongfamilyalliance.orgMoms Demand Action: https://momsdemandaction.org/ Everytown Survivor Network: https://www.everytown.org/organization/survivor-network/National Action Network: https://nationalactionnetwork.net/ Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpodYou can also follow the podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sufferthelittlechildrenpodcast Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpodTumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/sufferthelittlechildrenpodPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod Visit the podcast's web page at