Zack Harrington

The father of Zack Harrington, the gay teen who took his own life after listening to homophobic comments at a Norman, Okla. city council meeting last year, says his family plans to plan a tree in his memory at a city park.

Zack Harrington’s death served as the inspiration for gay Fort Worth Councilman Joel Burns’ “It Gets Better” speech.

Zack’s father, Van Harrington, said the family plans to plant the Oklahoma White Bud on April 29, which would have been Zack’s 20th birthday.

“We now have site approval and digging permit for planting of Zack’s tree,” Van Harrington said in an email this morning.

They’ve also ordered a memorial bench from the Norman Park Service that will be placed there at a later date.

Van Harrington said a documentary film is being produced about Zack’s life by Still Point Pictures, a New York company. They’ll be back in July for more filming, he said.

Also, Lecia Brooks from the Southern Poverty Law Center recently brought the film Bullied to Norman for two separate showings in Zack’s name.

“Hopefully these interests in Zack’s life will make a difference for others,” he said. “I know it helps me.”