Newbury vigil for stabbed transgender teen held at Victoria Park

West Berkshire's LGBTQ+ community joined hundreds across the country in paying respects to stabbed transgender schoolgirl, Brianna Ghey.

Brianna, 16, from Warrington, Cheshire, was found with fatal stab wounds in a village park on Saturday, February 11. Emergency services were called, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Close to 40 members and supporters of Newbury Pride gathered for a candle-lit vigil in her memory from 7pm at Victoria Park on Thursday (February 16).

"I felt I just had to do something. A lot of people seem to have taken a lot of comfort from it," explained organiser Andrea Brookes, from Thatcham.

"After our Trans Day of Remembrance last November, I was looking at some of the comments on other Remembrance services on Twitter and obviously you get some of the vilest comments you can imagine. It's a really toxic place.

"There were people on there almost exulting over the fact that no trans person in the UK had been murdered last year. We had 11 people commit suicide, but nobody had actually been murdered.

"Well, it was like, we have had one now, do you feel happy?"

She hopes communities will continue to raise awareness and promote equality for LGBTQ+ in the UK.

Readings were led by attendees — including a former pupil from Brianna's school — and visitors also brought LGBTQ+ flags and posters of Brianna.

One poster was displayed in the window of the Old Waggon & Horses pub on Newbury Market Place.

Cheshire Constabulary have charged a 15-year-old girl from Warrington and a 15-year-old boy from Leigh with Brianna's murder and are currently investigating whether this was a hate crime.

There are numerous support services available for LGBTQ+ people facing abuse or identity struggles.

Newbury Pride can be contacted on hello@newburypride.org.uk or via its Facebook page.

Proud to be Trans in West Berkshire is available for support at info@ptbtiwb.co.uk or via its Facebook page.

Mermaids provides support to transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse children and young adults. Its helpline – 0808 801 0400 – is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm.

Samaritans operates a free, 24 hour helpline at 116 123 and can also be reached via email at jo@samaritans.org.

Always call 999 in an emergency.