As we come to the end of February and LGBT+ History Month, we wanted to share the wonderful speech written by our current LGBT+ Rep, Ash. She gave this speech at the vigil held on February 11th, to honour the life of Brianna Ghey – a transgender teenager whose death on February 11th 2023 was the result of a hate crime.

3 years ago today, a young and vibrant life was extinguished. I recall vividly reading the news, the grief I felt, and the overwhelming sadness that washed over me. Although I had never met her, learning of her life touched me deeply, as I'm sure it did for many in our community. I am still sad, and still angry at how her life was ended, but Brianna's story is not one of darkness. Her life brought joy, and we will not let her light disappear.

Even at only sixteen she was an active part of the trans community and worked hard to help others discover and live as themselves. She made her trans friends feel "unstoppable" and is remembered by those who knew her well as a "beacon of positivity". She might now have been a student, perhaps even at this university, or just a young adult enjoying life. She was more than deserving of that chance.

Tonight, even as we remember a wonderful young person whose life was taken by hatred, I want you all to remember that we are not alone. Those who will twist their own misery into hatred against our community will not prosper. They are miserable, and I want you to never fail to notice that. Contrast that to the joy we immerse ourselves in. The serene of truly finding ourselves in a world that makes it difficult to be ourselves. The friends we find when we all work together to build our community. Our caring community, our beautiful community, our powerful community.

I feel somehow insufficient to be here speaking but I have felt the hatred that killed Brianna, and I will not acquiesce to it. I am exactly where I need to be, and I am still angry, and still sad, and I still have the same tears in my eyes as I did when I and hundreds of people, cis and trans, gathered at George Square in 2023 soon after hearing of her passing. But I'm with friends, I'm with good people, I am with people who have the strength to be part of a better world.

One of her friends said "if Bri would want anything from her passing, it would be change. I pray that her death isn't meaningless, and that the UK government and society see the issue and change. We can't let this happen again".

Despite the ignorant, awful, bigoted events that have transpired since, I do see change. I see allies stepping up, I see people in our community grow in confidence and capability, I see attitudes change.

I have particularly struggled this last year and it has been a fight but our resistance is strong, and it is growing. I think Brianna would be proud to see that, and she would see beauty and power in every one of you here. Every single one of you.

Tonight we light these candles in her memory. Let them light up this dark February night the way that Brianna lit up the lives of so many. I invite you to hold hands if you wish. We will remember her in these moments of reflection. We will not forget her, Brianna Ghey.