About 1,000 people attended a candlelit vigil in the village of Culcheth, Warrington, in the UK, where Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl, was found fatally wounded last weekend. Ghey died after being found stabbed in Linear Park in Culcheth. A boy and girl, both aged 15, have been charged with her murder. At the vigil, crowds sang “Over The Rainbow” while pubs and shops turned their lights off as a sign of respect. A book of condolence was handed out, and Brianna was described as “our beautiful, gracious and powerful little sister.” Members of the public also gathered outside the Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham, as well as in Southampton, Nottingham, and Edinburgh to hold vigils for Ghey.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and his daughter Annie attended the vigil. He tweeted: “Here to remember Brianna, send our love to her family and support to young trans people everywhere.” Earlier, all of the UK’s LGBTQ+ radio stations held a minute’s silence in memory of Ghey. Ghey’s family has said they were “overwhelmed” by the “support, positivity, and compassion” they have received. A fundraising page set up to support the family has raised more than £100,000.
Tricia Anderton, 59, the secretary of Culcheth Village Choir, said this “awful tragedy has touched the hearts of everyone” in their “very close community.” “We were very proud to play even just a small part of this evening’s vigil for Brianna. We were asked specifically to sing Over The Rainbow, and it was so lovely to hear everyone joining in”, she added. There were moving tributes from local dignitaries, including the Mayor of Warrington Jean Flaherty followed by a two-minute silence. The event took place behind the local library, which Cheshire police have been using as a temporary base to carry out their investigation into the schoolgirl’s death.
Many of those in the crowd were students from nearby schools. Floral displays and candles were laid out under a tree, and many of those attending wore T-shirts with the slogan Rest In Power and a photo of Brianna. A number of vigils have been held over the past week for Ghey, and more memorials are planned over the weekend, including another in Warrington on Saturday.
The tragic murder of a transgender teen has struck a chord with the UK’s LGBTQ+ community, resulting in widespread public demonstrations of grief and support. However, Ghey’s death is a sobering reminder that hate crimes against transgender individuals continue to be a major problem, both in the UK and beyond. According to a study from Transgender Europe, the suicide rate among transgender people is higher than the average population, and the risk of violence is also alarmingly high. Vigils such as these serve to remind us that we still have a long way to go to ensure equal rights and protections for transgender individuals.
