Sixteen-year-old Brianna Ghey was stabbed to death in a UK park on the afternoon of February 11. Ghey, who was trans, was active on TikTok and had posted to her 31,000-plus followers just hours before her death.
Two 15-year-olds have been arrested. Local police told the media, “Whilst this is being investigated as a targeted attack and Brianna was a trans girl, we do not at this time believe it was a hate crime.” The head of Ghey’s school issued a statement saying the community was “shocked and truly devastated” by the news, and reportedly declined to comment on allegations that Ghey had been bullied at school.
“Brianna was a much loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister. She was a larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her," Ghey’s parents said in a statement to the media. "Brianna was beautiful, witty, and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless, and one of a kind. The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family, and we know that the teachers and her friends who were involved in her life will feel the same.”
A GoFundMe account launched for the family less than 24 hours ago (at the time of this writing) has surpassed its £4,216 goal, and at press time was over £26,500. But advocates on both sides of the pond point out that due to the UK’s laws on gender identification, Ghey will be misgendered on her death certificate. Meanwhile, some UK media outlets are reportedly misgendering and dead-naming Ghey in their coverage.
“The specific circumstances of her killing are yet to become clear but the context — the context is foul and evil and entirely the fault of the adult world,” Shon Faye, author of The Transgender Issue, said via Instagram of Ghey’s killing.
Parliament’s Nadia Whittome, at 26 the UK’s youngest MP, tweeted, “Brianna deserved a chance to become a beautiful adult woman, and to live to see a world where trans people are safe and respected. Anyone in the media who is using her dead-name and erasing Brianna’s identity should be ashamed of themselves.”
British rapper Yungblud tweeted, “Utterly heartbroken about the death of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey. Protect trans kids every day and fight relentlessly against anti-trans sentiment & legislations being pushed by our heinous government.”
The trans community across the UK and worldwide has spoken out over Ghey’s killing. A London protest hosted by the UK-based Transgender Action Block is planned for Wednesday evening at the Department of Education.
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Sixteen-year-old Brianna Ghey was stabbed to death in a UK park on the afternoon of February 11. Ghey, who was trans, was active on TikTok and had posted to her 31,000-plus followers just hours before her death.
Two 15-year-olds have been arrested. Local police told the media, “Whilst this is being investigated as a targeted attack and Brianna was a trans girl, we do not at this time believe it was a hate crime.” The head of Ghey’s school issued a statement saying the community was “shocked and truly devastated” by the news, and reportedly declined to comment on allegations that Ghey had been bullied at school.
“Brianna was a much loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister. She was a larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her," Ghey’s parents said in a statement to the media. "Brianna was beautiful, witty, and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless, and one of a kind. The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family, and we know that the teachers and her friends who were involved in her life will feel the same.”
A GoFundMe account launched for the family less than 24 hours ago (at the time of this writing) has surpassed its £4,216 goal, and at press time was over £26,500. But advocates on both sides of the pond point out that due to the UK’s laws on gender identification, Ghey will be misgendered on her death certificate. Meanwhile, some UK media outlets are reportedly misgendering and dead-naming Ghey in their coverage.
“The specific circumstances of her killing are yet to become clear but the context — the context is foul and evil and entirely the fault of the adult world,” Shon Faye, author of The Transgender Issue, said via Instagram of Ghey’s killing.
Parliament’s Nadia Whittome, at 26 the UK’s youngest MP, tweeted, “Brianna deserved a chance to become a beautiful adult woman, and to live to see a world where trans people are safe and respected. Anyone in the media who is using her dead-name and erasing Brianna’s identity should be ashamed of themselves.”
British rapper Yungblud tweeted, “Utterly heartbroken about the death of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey. Protect trans kids every day and fight relentlessly against anti-trans sentiment & legislations being pushed by our heinous government.”
The trans community across the UK and worldwide has spoken out over Ghey’s killing. A London protest hosted by the UK-based Transgender Action Block is planned for Wednesday evening at the Department of Education.
Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take.
#Brianna #Ghey #16YearOld #Trans #Girl #Killed
