Two people hug each other in the middle of a crowd of people.

In photos: vigil for Brianna Ghey

Red, heart-shaped balloons. A Valentine’s day staple became a symbol of mourning as they floated above the crowd gathered to remember Brianna Ghey. 

Brianna, a 16-year-old trans girl, was murdered in Warrington on Saturday, February 11, in what is being investigated as a possible hate crime. Two 15-year-olds have since been charged with her murder

Around one hundred people, many from Bristol’s LGBTQ+ community, assembled on College Green on Tuesday evening to pay respects, console one another and call for an end to the violence which has taken too many lives. 

According to Stop Hate UK, there were 2,630 hate crimes against trans people reported to the police between 2020 and 2021, an increase of 16% on the previous year. 

This represents only a small fraction of the total, however, as further surveys revealed that 88% of transgender people did not report hate crimes they experience, with many feeling the police response is inadequate.

Images: Wong Yat Him

Two people hold small lights in their hands. They look sad.
A close-up photo of a hand holding a candle in a jar. Around the jar is a paper note reading "Rest in power Brianna"
A large crowd of people stand in a semi-circle around a person speaking through a megaphone.
Three people hold placards mourning the death of Brianna Ghey.
People in a crowd hold small candles in their hands.
People in a crowd, one holds red, heart-shaped balloons.
A placard reads "we're sick of burying our trans siblings". It lies on the ground surrounded by candles.

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