This week, the death of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey has captured the world's attention.
Brianna, who was trans and very prominent on TikTok, was stabbed to death in a Chesire park in the UK on the afternoon of February 11.
There have been reports that Brianna had been a victim of alleged bullying at school and in a TikTok posted prior to her death, Brianna said she had been "excluded" at school that day.
Two 15-year-olds – a male and female – have been arrested on the suspicion of murder. They are also from the local area and remain in custody, police have confirmed.
For Brianna's family, they've said they are devastated to have lost a "larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her".
Watch: An ideal world, according to Trans Australians. Post continues below.
As her parents said: "Brianna was beautiful, witty, and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless, and one of a kind."
Detective chief superintendent Mike Evans of Cheshire Police said that various lines of inquiry were underway and officers were trying to establish the "exact circumstances".
"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," he said.
His comments have since been met with criticism from LGBTQIA+ advocates.
A London protest hosted by the UK-based Transgender Action Block is planned for Wednesday evening at the Department of Education.
Advocates are also calling for Brianna's gender pronouns and identity to be respected in media reporting, as per what her wishes would have been. It comes after some trans rights commentators have criticised the fact that Brianna will be described as a male on her death certificate, despite identifying as a woman.
In the UK, trans people require a gender recognition certificate (GRC) to change their birth certificate and the gender listed. Having a GRC also allows trans people to have the correct sex recorded on their death certificate.
However, there are strict and specific criteria that must be met to seek legal gender recognition in the UK, including age limits.
But amid these important conversations, Brianna's family are still left to deal with the loss of their loved one.
As they said in their statement: "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."
To contribute to Brianna Ghey's GoFundMe page, you can do so here.
If you think you may be experiencing depression or another mental health problem, please contact your general practitioner. If you're based in Australia, 24-hour support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
Feature Image: Supplied.
Top Comments
And police don't help by saying "this isn't a hate crime, even though it was a targeted attack against a trans girl" that is the very definition of a hate crime. She was killed because she was trans.