Vigil for Brianna Ghey held at Nucleus Arts Centre in Chatham High Street
Published: 15:44, 17 February 2023
Updated: 16:08, 17 February 2023
More than 100 mourners have gathered in memory of a transgender girl who was stabbed to death in a park last weekend.
A vigil for Brianna Ghey was held at Nucleus Arts Centre, Chatham High Street, yesterday evening.
Families brought their handmade banners, posters written 'rest in power', as well as flowers and candles in memory of the schoolgirl.
The 16-year-old from Birchwood in Warrington was found with fatal stab wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park at around 3.13pm on February 11.
She posted dance and lip-syncing videos on her TikTok account, which attracted thousands of followers.
Yesterday's vigil was organised by Medway Pride Radio, and saw people coming from other parts of Kent, including Margate and Tonbridge.
The station's co-founder and director, Shea Coffey, was pleased with how many people came to show their support.
She said: "I wanted the community to have a chance to come together and to express love and support for each other and that's what we got last night. We were very lucky to see so many allies there.
"I was told we had at least 100 people show up."
The radio presenter was keen to put the younger generation at the centre of the vigil and help them deal with the tragic news.
She said: "There were a couple of people that I met that were very newly out and understandably terrified is what this means to them.
"So we were able to talk to people and hopefully calm some nerves and delay some fears, as well as creating points of contact if anybody needs any help.
"We need people to understand that we are not monsters. Trans people are not sexual predators. Trans people are just ordinary, everyday people, and we need to change the conversation."
Hilary Cooke from the Medway Gender Sexual Diversity Centre also said a few words.
As someone who has been outwardly trans in the community for nearly 40 years, she remind people that "we've been here before and things will get better."
The speeches were then followed by all mourners raising their phones with torches, lighting up the venue to remember Brianna.
A second Kent vigil is set to be held tonight at the Buttermarket Square, in Canterbury, at 6pm.
More by this author
Juliana Cruz Lima