Vigil for Brianna Ghey - some words from our community

We would like to say a massive thank you to all of you who joined us last night at the Wavy Steps. It was so heartwarming to see so many faces fill the centre of Hebden Bridge with so much love. 

We thought we would share the words that David spoke, and also the poem written by Clare.

Thank you to David, Clare, Hebden Royd Town Council Mayor Jane Hoyle, Calderdale Councillor Josh Fenton-Glynn and all the members of the public who spoke for their kind words.

David's words:

I remember and honour Brianna Ghey.

That I have to say this, that, I remember Brianna, who, we must not forget was only 16 years old, is utterly tragic and utterly wrong.  

Brianna had all of her life ahead of her, to do those things which make up a normal life ,for a normal 16 year old girl in modern Britain. 

She would post videos on TikTok;  She would revise for her exams;  She may have gone to university; she would form relationships and maybe meet that someone special; she would enter the world of work; she would set up home, possibly bring up children

She would grow old surrounded by those she loved and those who loved her.

Brianna will not be putting any more videos on TikTok
Brianna will not be taking any exams
Brianna will not be going to university
Brianna will not be entering the world of work
Brianna will not be meeting that special person
Brianna will not be setting up home
Brianna will not be bringing up children

Brianna Ghey will not, grow old

Those who knew her and loved her are left to grieve her loss.

Last Saturday, in the afternoon, in a public place, in daylight, Brianna was stabbed and left to die.

Thankfully, two people, themselves tragically young, have been charged with Brianna’s murder, and we now must wait while the judicial processes take their course.  Only when this is complete will we finally know what hate led to this crime.

Brianna, was a brilliant young person, full of energy, wit, drive, passion and let’s not forget, life.  

She was a great presence on TikTok with a cool and impressive 32,000 followers around the world.   In her all too brief time, Brianna touched and affected for the good so many people.  And these people, people from around the world, people who never met Brianna, loved her.

Brianna deserved her place in the world and the world was better for having Brianna in it.  She was a brightly shining star and, that that star has now dimmed does not mean that Brianna has passed from our hearts.  

It is my belief that as long as there are people to remember us, and as long, even when those people who knew us have gone, if our names are said out loud, then we have not fully gone and we still exist in the world.   This is something that I do when I visit graveyards, memorials and the like.  I look at the names and say them out loud.  And for that brief moment they are there, in the world with me.

So here, this evening, in Hebden Bridge, by the wavy steps, I say out loud BRIANNA GHEY, I ask all of you, here, each and everyone of you to say out loud, BRIANNA GHEY ….

I’ll finish with this, the words of those who knew Brianna best, her family, “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.   Brianna was beautiful, witty and hilarious.  Brianna was strong, fearless one of a kind.”

To which I will add, Brianna Ghey, a 16 year old girl, was Trans.

 

Clare's poem:

Always loved, never forgotten
for Brianna Ghey

To never have met them,
to never have known them
and still to remember their names –

to imagine the ways that they died -
the glint of a blade, a dark road, a river –
we must remember

we are perfect as we are.
To remember their voices
like snow in the darkness

we must make our hearts huge
and brave.
To remember La Pocha and Zen and Kimbella,

Tamara and Alex and Blair and Melena,
Always remember to love one another.
Remember to hold your head high.

Remember Brianna. Remember her laughter
the buds on the trees
and the snowdrops in flower.

Remember last summer and Rosa and Karla,
Remember their favourite songs
and sing them though we never knew them -

Fernanda, Lorena and Matthew and Shiza –
the streetlights and music, remember their anger –
Remember the light on the river.

Remember to look at the stars.

by Clare Shaw

 

If you want to show your support via a donation, there is a go fund me page for Brianna here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/brianna-ghey

The Calderdale LGBTQ+ youth service at Brunswick Centre, Halifax, support young trans people through groups, 121s, free counselling etc as well as resources for parents, schools - you can find our more here: https://www.thebrunswickcentre.org.uk/services/youth-services

We have also included below a list of organisation who can provide information and support - whether you are trans, a parent of a trans child or a member of the public wishing to show allyship at this time of need for our trans siblings.