Vigil is held at Candie for murdered transgender teen
THE mother of a transgender child has told how the youngster was bullied at school and how she herself had been called sick, a groomer and told her children should be taken away from her.
Her words were read by Gwen Le Blond, founder of Guernsey Women’s Collective, during a vigil in memory of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey in Warrington on 11 February. A boy and a girl are in custody charged with her murder.
‘We are lucky that my daughter has an incredible network of family and friends who support and protect her,’ the mother continued.
After being bullied at school, the girl did not stay quiet: ‘Thankfully, she told us and we were able to resolve the situation with the help of the school.’
She said it was everybody’s responsibility to ensure that we live in a safe environment: ‘Why should trans people be the latest to be the victims of bullies?’
In recent days members of the LGBT community across the British Isles have come together in Brianna’s memory and Guernsey was no exception, with about 100 people gathering in Candie Gardens on Saturday for the vigil, co-organised by GWC and Liberate.
Mrs Le Blond said it was important for the island to stand in solidarity with others around the country in the wake of Brianna’s murder.
‘I think it’s really important that trans young people know that people are there to be with them.’
‘We wanted to provide a space for people to come together in support of the local trans community and in the UK,’ said GWC volunteer Chloe Divers.
‘It’s so important to show people that there’s a space for them in Guernsey and they shouldn’t be scared.’
The message was echoed by Liberate’s Oli Bailey-Davies: ‘When any child dies the community they are from will coalesce around that moment and I think for the LGBT community at the moment, where trans rights are being talked about so negatively in the press, its important we come together and support our brothers and sisters,’ he said
Addressing the crowd shortly afterwards he said he hoped that one day transgender people could ‘stand up in confidence and celebrate their community’.
‘I have to hope that in 15 years, or 10, or five if we are really good, that we can have a discrimination law that protects trans people.’
After the silence, speeches and poems, the event concluded with music from singer Faolan Gill.
