Miles Phipps
Age 154 Nov 2025
Urbandale, Iowa (USA)
Suicide
Miles died by suicide. A day earlier a substitute teacher had refused to use his chosen pronouns.
The family of a young trans student from Iowa who took his own life earlier this month, has spoken out about the bullying he faced during his short life.
Fifteen-year-old Miles Phipps died on 4 November, prompting more than 150 pupils at Urbandale High School to walk out in support of his family and to call for more kindness.
His mother told the Des Moines Register that he had been bullied in and out of school for years. He had tried to end his own life twice, even before attending the school.
Miles’ death came a day after a substitute teacher refused to use his preferred pronouns. Eleven months earlier, his family had informed the school that he was trans. School principal Tim Carver informed other parents and guardians in an email and directed them to resources, emphasising that counselling would be available to students.
Miles’ father told the Register: “If I could give one message to all the kids, [it’s] if you see someone bullying another person, call them out. Bullies don’t like to be called out. Always be kind because you never know what that person is going through.”
A GoFundMe has been launched to help the Phipps and Campbell families with funeral and memorial expenses, including the siting of a park bench outside Miles’ favourite place, the Urbandale Library. The GoFundMe remembers him as “a kind, talented and creative soul who expressed himself through music” [who] loved “skateboarding, bicycling and spending time outdoors”. It goes on to say: “Miles was a proud transgender male who was driven, and faced the world with courage, authenticity and grace, even in the face of bullying and misunderstanding. He is deeply loved and will forever be cherished by his family. His parents and older sister will forever celebrate his laughter, his music and his beautiful heart.”
https://gayety.com/iowa-trans-student-miles-phipps-suicide
https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/11/17/miles-phipps-iowa-trans-student/
https://www.caldwellparrish.com/obituaries/miles-phipps
https://obits.mlive.com/person/Miles-Phipps-59889551
https://www.gofundme.com/f/honor-miles-with-a-bench-and-tree-at-the-library
