Trans people have explained how the murder of schoolgirl Brianna Ghey has “hit hard” and made them feel like a “constant target” ahead of an inquest.
Brianna Ghey was stabbed to death on 11 February 2023 in Clucheth Linear Park in Warrington. Two teenagers, Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe – who were both 15 at the time of the attack – were sentenced to life in prison for the murder, which was described as “exceptionally brutal” by the judge.
The judge, Justice Amanda Yip, added that the murder was partly motivated by “hostility towards Brianna because of her transgender identity”.
The inquest into the teenager’s death will begin on Wednesday (23 October) and is expected to take three days.
In the days following Brianna’s death, thousands of people attended vigils to honour the 16-year-old, and more than £100,000 was raised in a fundraising page set up for her family. For trans people during a time of increasing homophobic and transphobic hate crimes, Brianna’s death “hit hard”.
Musician Dylan Holloway explained that Brianna Ghey’s death in 2023 was a “devastating reminder that being transgender in the current climate makes you a constant target”. Holloway, 31, added that Brianna’s death was particularly tragic as she was at an age “where one should be freely enjoying their youth and the exciting adventure of getting to know yourself and the world”.
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Holloway explained that “there was some empathy” for Brianna’s death from the British public, “but a lot of the media and public still avoids calling this what it was.”
“This was not an unfortunate, isolated case, but another example of extreme transphobic violence – stoked by a pure lack of education and compassion for a different, and harmless, way to be human,” he said.
Holloway added that Keir Starmer and the government should “step up” to combat transphobic rhetoric in the UK in the wake of Brianna’s death, and that trans people should be at the “centre” of creating policy aimed at LGBTQ+ people.
“Acknowledge the damage transphobia causes and make clear commitments to protecting trans lives,” he said. “Stop letting the media and political discourse treat our existence like a debate. But most importantly, actively involve trans voices when creating or changing policies. Trans people should be there, at the centre of these conversations, alongside decision makers. No one should be making rules about something for which they have zero understanding about the lived experience.”
Holloway added that “education is key” to protecting the trans community from further hate crimes, while mental health care for trans young people is “vital”.
“Investing in education and support systems that help trans people thrive, not just survive,” he explained. “If the larger population understood, there would be much less ‘fear’. People are out here just trying to live authentically – we’re literally minding our own damn business and trying to be happy.
He continued: “Accessible mental health care for trans youth is vital. We need more funding for services that understand the struggles and stop making the fight so hard just to get basic support.
“Brianna deserved better, and so do all trans kids.”
A crowd of people gather in Sheffield at the vigil of murdered trans teen Brianna Ghey in 2023 (Tom Pople/Twitter)
Levi, an ambassador for LGBTQ+ charity Just Like Us, explained that while trans people in the UK have “some allies”, transphobia has been “getting progressively worse” over the last few years.
“It’s not easy being trans in any country and it’s actually scary to think that I’m not safe wherever for being who I am,” Levi, who is a trans man, told the Big Issue. “However, we can’t deny the fact that transphobia in the UK has been getting progressively worse and it’s more common to see hate crimes.
“It feels like I need to be careful everywhere I go and I need to avoid speaking about trans topics in a positive way in public, because we never know who might be listening. It makes me feel uneasy and uncomfortable having to share public environments, where I often don’t feel safe.”
Levi explained that the government should “treat trans people as they would treat any other person” and that “our rights should be treated as human rights”.
“In practice, they need to tackle and punish any hate attacks towards trans people – not just physical, but verbal too. This is the only way all cis people will understand that we are human and have the same rights as them,” he added.
“We need to stop people from thinking that any sort of violence or hate is acceptable.”
Candlelit vigils were held for 16-year-old Brianna Ghey after her death in 2023. Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Rush, another ambassador for Just Like Us, explained that while the murder was “profoundly disturbing”, the response from the LGBTQ+ community “standing in solidarity” with Brianna’s family after the teenager’s death “has been both heartening and filled with powerful emotion”.
They explained: “This case was the first major news of brutal transphobia I had come across since moving to the UK and since coming out as non-binary.
“What struck me most while reading the articles covering the trial was the persistent debate over whether transphobia was the true motive behind the crime. Reflecting on this, I realise that what deeply unsettled me was the way her identity – particularly her transness – was being questioned and, in some cases, erased.
“Like many in the trans community, I’ve found this case profoundly disturbing.”
Rush added: “I deeply admire her mother’s courage in transforming her grief into a powerful and positive legacy for her daughter. That is what I choose to focus on and share. Her mother’s unwavering defence of her daughter and her identity left a lasting impact on me when I first learned about the case. It’s what continues to resonate with me.”
Rush explained that one of the most critical actions for the government to take in addressing transphobia is to ban conversion therapy – legislation that has been promised for over six years.
Banning the harmful practice “would send a powerful message of solidarity and help reduce the violent discrimination faced by LGBT+ individuals”, they explained.
Rush added: “Equally important is the need for reform in healthcare and mental health services, with specialised support for queer and trans youth. This is vital in addressing the harmful transphobic climate and rhetoric present in society today.”
The inquest into Brianna Ghey’s death is expected to take place from Wednesday (23 October) until Friday (25 October).
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