Brianna Ghey’s Mum Delivers Emotional Tribute at Vigil Marking One Year Since Trans Teen’s Murder
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Warrington, England – It has been one year since the brutal murder of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, a transgender teenager who was stabbed to death in Culcheth Linear Park. Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, paid an emotional tribute to her daughter at a vigil held outside Warrington’s Golden Square Shopping Centre on Sunday, February 11th.
The vigil was attended by friends, family, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who came together to remember Brianna and call for increased protection for trans and non-binary individuals in the face of rising hate crime figures. Esther Ghey, visibly moved by the occasion, spoke to the crowd about her daughter’s unique and joyful spirit.
“I will be forever thankful that I was able to spend 16 years with Brianna,” Esther said. “She taught me so much and gave me so much peace and love. If there was one piece of advice I could give to any parent, it would be to hold your kids tight and never stop telling them that you love them.”
The vigil included a two-minute silence to honor Brianna’s memory, during which her friends shared their cherished memories of the teenager. The heartbreaking loss of such a young life has deeply affected the community, and the gathering served as a reminder of the urgent need for greater protection and support for transgender individuals.
Brianna’s killers, Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, both aged 16 at the time of the murder, were recently named by Mrs. Justice Yip after the lifting of an anonymity order that had previously prevented the media from revealing their identities. The court found both teenagers guilty of murder, with Scarlett Jenkinson receiving a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years, and Eddie Ratcliffe receiving a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years.
During the trial, Justice Yip noted that the murder was “sadistic in nature” and motivated by “hostility towards Brianna because of her transgender identity.” This tragic event highlights the ongoing issue of transphobia and the need for society to address and combat such hatred.
In the wake of her daughter’s death, Esther Ghey has become an advocate for mental health awareness and mindfulness. She has also called for stricter regulations on social media apps, arguing that harmful keywords should be flagged to parents and that certain platforms should be banned for individuals under the age of 16.
In an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC’s Sunday, Esther expressed her desire for legislation that would introduce mobile phones specifically designed for individuals under the age of 16. She also proposed software that would automatically link parents’ phones to their children’s devices, enabling the detection of concerning keywords.
Esther emphasized the importance of such measures, stating, “If a child is searching the kind of words that Scarlett and Eddie were searching, it will then flag up on the parent’s phone.” She believes that if her daughter’s killers’ online searches had been flagged, their parents may have been able to intervene and seek help for them.
The tragic murder of Brianna Ghey serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by transgender individuals in society. It is imperative that we work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting environment for all, where no one lives in fear simply for being their authentic selves.
As we mark one year since Brianna’s untimely death, let us honor her memory by continuing to fight for justice, equality, and the protection of transgender rights. Only through collective efforts can we hope to create a world where every individual can live freely and without fear of discrimination or violence.
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