Your say / trans rights
‘To say being trans in the UK has become increasingly difficult would be an understatement’
As a transwoman myself I am absolutely heartbroken to hear of the fatal stabbing of 16 year old Brianna Ghey, a beautiful young trans girl navigating her way through school and life in her authentic identity.
What a tragic and needless loss of life. A stain on our society which seems to have become less and less civilised. Less and less compassionate. More and more unkind and cruel.
To say being trans in the U.K has become increasingly difficult would be an understatement. Many of us simply trying to peacefully lead quiet and ordinary lives have been thrust under the spotlight by an obsessive mainstream media that sees our community as clickbait. A way to get more subscribers. More comments on their social media pages.
is needed now More than ever
We are also a convenient deflection tool for the current Conservative government mired in scandal after scandal; ranging from tax evasion to institutional bullying at ministerial level; which is why we are the latest victims of their divide and rule culture war.
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Read more: ‘A watershed moment for putting LGBTQ+ people on the map’
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As a result, hate crimes against us and LGBTQI+ people more broadly have soared, and some public attitudes towards us have hardened.
Understandably, many in my community believe that Brianna Ghey was the victim of a transphobic hate crime.
Whatever the background is to this abhorrent and shameful tragedy, her family needs to grieve in privacy and with dignity. Now is not the time to use the tragic death of a bright and beautiful 16 year old girl to campaign against the increasingly difficult conditions under which we as trans people live in this country.
Fatal knife crime more generally is an increasing reality, particularly in cities. Only recently a 34 year old man here in Bristol lost his life after being stabbed in broad daylight.
Whether knife crime is being fuelled by underinvestment in youth services, underinvestment in policing or the rise of violent computer games, the fact remains that we have a duty to strive for a society in which no other 16 year old, regardless of who or what they are, is ever fatally stabbed again in future.
Only by connecting as humans in all our forms and nurturing universal values such as common sense, compassion, kindness and solidarity can we overcome the wide-scale dehumanisation and otherisation of fellow humans which is responsible for so much hate today in all its forms.
Liv Fortune is a Montpelier resident. A vigil is being held on College Green at 6pm on Tuesday, February 14 for Brianna Ghey.
Main photo: Cheshire police
Read more:
- Trans community and supporters stage Section 35 protest
- The new self defence workshop empowering LGBTQ+ people
- Man in his 30s dies after city centre stabbing
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