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Candlelit vigil held to remember Brianna Ghey
Dozens of people held candles on College Green in a moving vigil to remember Brianna Ghey.
Police investigating the killing of the 16-year-old schoolgirl are now considering whether it could have been a hate crime.
Brianna was found lying with stab wounds on a path in Culcheth in Cheshire on Saturday.
is needed now More than ever
Several people spoke to the gathered crowd on Tuesday evening with a few also choosing to read poems.
The vigil took place close to a tree on which ribbons are tied to remember trans people who have died due to violence.
A new ribbon was tied to the tree in memory of Brianna.
A ribbon was attached to a tree on College Green in memory of Brianna Ghey – photo: Martin Booth
Speaking at the event, Trans Pride South West volunteer Kaz Self said: “When I saw the image of Brianna on Saturday, I was devastated by what I saw… The pain I have been in over the last few days has been abysmal.
“Brianna deserves to be respected in death as well as life. She was 16. She identified as female and yet the fact of the matter is, she will have male on her death certificate.
“This is the very reason why we have been campaigning for reform of the Gender Recognition Act.”
Another speaker added: “Although it’s important to talk about these things, it’s important to remember that Brianna did not ask to become a martyr. She was a 16-year-old girl with a normal life.”
Dozens of people took part in the vigil on Tuesday evening – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Claims council’s trans rights motion is ‘unlawful’
- ‘To say being trans in the UK has become increasingly difficult is an understatement’
- Trans community and supporters stage Section 35 protest
- Bristol’s spending on special needs education becoming ‘unsustainable’
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