Brianna Ghey’s pink-themed funeral was a celebration of her “bravery, courage, determination and grit”

Last month, the life of trans teenager Brianna Ghey was tragically taken after a fatal stabbing in Culcheth Linear Park, Warrington. Cheshire Police confirmed they were exploring her death as a hate crime, as two 15-year-olds were remanded in custody after being charged with the murder. Today, mourners gathered in Warrington to celebrate her life at a pink-themed funeral organised by family and friends. 

The service included poems, music, and heartfelt tributes hailing Ghey’s character and how much she was widely loved and will be sorely missed. The 16-year-old’s family had asked mourners to wear pink to keep with the teen’s colourful personality, as they took to St Elphin’s Parish Church to remember her life.

Ghey’s mother wore a pink trouser suit, as others wore pink ties and dresses whilst carrying balloons and flowers. Lana Del Ray’s song ‘Video games’ played as they arrived for service. The Reverend at the service asked to “give us the courage to love each other. Inspire us to create a world where all people are valued and safe and all your creation is honoured.”

A letter from the school Ghey attended, Birchwood High School, spoke of her “bravery and courage, determination and grit… we will miss her wit and humour. We learnt so much about strength, about determination to be one’s true self and that is something we will all carry with us.”

After Ghey’s death, thousands of people attended candlelit vigils across the country on Valentine’s Day, as her family raised money for project ‘Mindfulness In Schools’ to train school staff as a lasting legacy for Ghey. On International Women’s Day last week, Labour MP Jess Phillips made a special mention of Brianna as she listed the names of women who had been killed in the past year.