The Mayor and Pastor of a Small Alabama Town Die After Being Exposed Online
F.L. “Bubba” Copeland, 49, took his own life days after a conservative news site exposed his secret existence as a “transgender curvy girl.” Copeland was the mayor of Smiths Station and the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Phenix City.
1819 News published an article detailing the identity of Brittini Blaire Summerlin, the online persona used by Copeland. Copeland used this alias to post images of himself on social media sites like Reddit and Instagram in which he was clearly disguised as a woman and wore things that belonged to his wife, including underwear.
Copeland allegedly posted explicit transgender pornography and wrote romantic stuff, describing “Brittini” as a “transitioning transgender curvy girl” who likes smiles, clothes, and shoes. On November 1st, the news website released an in-depth article about Copeland’s online life, complete with images and screenshots of his behavior.
Copeland confirmed his involvement with the accounts in an interview with 1819 News, saying he used it as a “hobby” to relax. He said his wife knew about his unusual hobby, but that it didn’t affect his duties as mayor or pastor.
Just a little bit of a role I’m playing, if you will. Copeland claimed, “I don’t go out and seek solicitation or anything like that.” He asserted that the erotica he authored was totally imaginary and unrelated to his public life.
Copeland erased the accounts and asked the news site to withhold the screenshots after the expose was published. He still gave his regular sermon, using Facebook Live to address the church and apologize for whatever shame the scandal may have created.
Tragically, just hours after 1819 News published another piece about the incident, describing Copeland’s explicit fabrication involving a local business owner, identity theft, and seduction, the mayor took his own life during a welfare check done by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the second piece of information, Copeland had also published photos of other area residents, including a minor, along with sexually explicit commentary without their knowledge or permission. Concerns have been raised concerning the future of Copeland’s legacy as mayor and pastor as a result of the consequences from these discoveries.