ON SATURDAY, Reading came together to mourn the loss of Brianna Ghey, a trans girl who was killed in Chichester on the afternoon of Saturday, February 11.
Her death sparked a number of vigils across the UK, as Cheshire Police initially said that there “was no evidence” that her killing was a hate crime.
They have since opened the investigation to “all lines of enquiry,” and described the attack as “targeted” two days later.
Reading Trans Movement organised the vigil and invited members of the public and representatives from charities, advocacy groups, and queer support organisations to pay their respects.
Candles and tributes were placed at the foot of the Maiwand Lion, which was lit in the colours of the Transgender flag.
Milan Evans began the vigil with a spoken tribute to Brianna, and said: “The response to Brianna’s death has been simultaneously wonderful from people of our community and our allies and horrifying for many others.
“This is a moment that we really need to be together as a community to show both for ourselves and to show other people that we’re we’re not few– we are we are many, we are strong, we will not be broken.”
They also gave a reading of a poem by Emily Valentine, and said: “One of the tragedies of Brianna was that she was loved by her family.
“They were proud of her, and that is not an experience most of us have had – it’s devastating that anyone should have to go through this.”
This was followed by an address by MyUmbrella LGBT+’s Kerry Kleis, who gave a reading of a poem by Keath Sliva.
Emily Hamilton, vice president of strategic change at Trans in the City, said: “She was our family– I feel the wins and losses equally as I would a member of the family.
“If your purpose was to become a journalist, was it your purpose to demonise a community and create fear and hatred?
“If you went into politics as a profession, you decide you want to lead, so speak up for people– children learn bigotry from the press, from governments, and from families, and we can’t take it for granted that people will learn how to love.”
Wokingham Pride’s Imogen Shepherd-Dubey spoke, saying: “Back when I came out, lesbians were being vilified and they didn’t want to them in the spaces where other women were because they thought we were predators.
“I’m seeing it being repeated with trans women at the moment in the media and the way people are approaching it.
“I want to give people hope that it will move on, but as our previous speakers have said, there’s a significant journey to go through.
“We can build a better world, and we have to do it together– it’s important that we stand together, and we need to teach tolerance.”
After addresses by representatives of Support U and the Reading University Student Union, and members of the public, including a song in memory of Brianna.
Reverend Judith Summer from Reading Minster Church gave a short address and led the vigil in a minute’s silence.
Further tributes were laid to Brianna before the vigil disbanded.
Two teenagers, a girl and boy, both 15, have been charged with the murder of Ms Ghey. They cannot be named for legal reasons. They have been remanded into youth detention accommodation.
