HughE Dillon attempted suicide three times after he came out in the 1980s. He felt rejected by his parents, started drinking and became homeless.
“I was kind of desperate and I didn’t know where to turn,” said Dillon, who grew up in Cherry Hill, N.J. “There was a suicide hotline, but it was not very helpful for me.”
After surviving an attempt to take his own life with a gun, Dillon decided there must be a reason for him to stay alive. He had moved to Philadelphia and started pursuing sobriety and volunteering with LGBT organizations. Dillon now works as a society photographer and blogger.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention plans to honor Dillon with the Lifesaver of the Year humanitarian award at its annual gala, which takes place 6 p.m. Nov. 14.
The event will be held at the Loews Hotel, 1200 Market St. It costs $100 for general admission or $150 for VIP tickets. Dinner and cocktails will be served. There will also be live music by Second Vision and DJ Adrian Hardy. Alex Holley, co-anchor of “Good Day Philadelphia” on Fox, will serve as mistress of ceremonies.
For several years, Dillon has promoted the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s mission to end the silence and stigma around mental health and suicide. When the organization approached him five years ago, he felt hesitant to get involved. But Dillon said he eventually changed his mind so that other people would have an easier time finding resources.
“I felt like maybe I could tell people they’re not alone,” Dillon said. “It does get better.”
“I know exactly how lonely it is,” he added. “We don’t always know how to reach out of our dark holes and people don’t always know how to reach in. People think there’s no way out, but there is.”
Dillon has reconciled with his parents. His father got a chance to meet his husband before passing away in 2004. Some of Dillon’s siblings plan to attend the gala for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention with him.
Dillon said the foundation is especially useful at connecting people who have had similar experiences. The organization also runs research, education and advocacy programs.
“We are dedicated to reducing the suicide rate by 25 percent by 2020 here in Philadelphia and across the U.S.,” Catherine Siciliano, AFSP Philadelphia Regional Manager, said in a statement.
She added the organization’s gala is a night to celebrate life.
“As a suicide survivor, you learn that you can’t wait for the storm to pass, and you must learn to dance in the rain,” she said.
For more information or to purchase gala tickets, visit www.afsp.org/philadelphia.