This article contains references to hate crimes and suicide.
Rishi Sunak has prompted uproar from across the political spectrum after making a “crass” joke about transgender people in the House of Commons.
The Prime Minister had reportedly been informed that Esther Ghey, the mother of Brianna Ghey – a teenage girl who was murdered in February last year in an attack that was “motivated by her transgender identity” – was watching in the public galley. Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Labour Party, immediately called out Sunak, saying, “Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna’s mother is in the chamber. Shame. Parading as a man of integrity when he’s got absolutely no responsibility.”
Brianna Ghey’s father, Peter Spooner, has called for Sunak to apologise for his comment, which he described as “degrading” and “absolutely dehumanising”. Downing Street has defended the Prime Minister, describing his conduct as “legitimate”.
Here, we revisit Charlie Craggs's feature, which was written in the immediate aftermath of Brianna's murder. It explores the transphobic culture that has grown in England, from being used as a political football to the inflammatory headlines that feature so often in the press, as well as how the world needs to change to better protect transgender people.
Brianna Ghey, a transgender teenager, was killed less than 24 hours ago, and the UK has really out-UK’d itself in response.
As expected, the nation's favourite transphobic publications have disgracefully used her old male name, and the TERFs of Twitter are frothing at the mouth as usual, having a field day going around commenting on the fact that she was born a boy and will die a boy on every post about her. A dead teenage girl. Naturally, while sticking to their guns that they’re doing this all in the name of protecting women and children, of course. I’m sure Brianna feels very protected right now.
This behaviour comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone with access to the internet. Trans people are the latest political punching bag, used by the Tories and their media mates to deflect and distract the British public.
In 2020, while our country was being failed during a global pandemic by our prime minister who was breaking the law and partying, The Times published 324 articles about trans issues. Read that again. Almost one a day.
It’s not even an exaggeration that every week, there’s a new debate in the media about trans people in the UK. Whether we should be allowed to use the toilet, play sports, or – in this case –be respected in death.
This move is all about supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.
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This week last year, the media was debating Adele's comments in her Brit's acceptance speech. Some claimed that transgender people were "cancelling" Adele for saying she was proud to be a woman. I wrote a piece for GLAMOUR about it because I hadn't heard a single trans person I know in real life or on Instagram comment on it – never mind care about it. After extensive research, I found three whole tweets, one of which was from a blank profile (not necessarily trans) and another from a gay man (definitely not trans).
While this syndicated article was going viral globally, painting us out to be snowflakes who get upset at everything, every trans person I know was busy being upset about something actually upsetting: Shay.
Shay, a trans friend of mine, was the sweetest person you’d ever meet, had taken his own life because life as a trans person wasn’t worth living. They couldn't take the abuse anymore.
“Trans people have been so dehumanised by the press – they see us as nothing more than someone to argue with.”
I feel a similar feeling around Brianna’s death to what I felt this time last year about Shay. It’s a feeling I can’t put into words. A mix of disgust, hurt and numbness. Trans people have been so dehumanised by the press they see us as nothing more than someone to argue with, or rather argue at.
Where is the humanity for our community, a community at the bottom of the social food chain? Where is the compassion for these dead teenagers, our brothers and sisters?
Why are we talking about this, and not the fact that literal children are killing themselves because of transphobia?
My mate, journalist and author, Owen Jones, posted about this on Twitter, referencing the (much debated) Gender Recognition Act and the fact that Brianna will be documented as male on her death certificate, which makes me feel physically sick.
What makes me feel even sicker is what the 'gender-critical' mob get out of reminding us in the comments of posts about Brianna. They froth at the mouth with excitement to let us know that Brianna’s death certificate is going to say male, something they’ve told me about myself many a time.
The fact that people who get excited about the idea of trans people dying so they can say “told you so” are still given a voice in the media – as though they are anything other than a hate group – is mind-blowing.
These people have spread misinformation around the GRA, claiming it will enable men to walk into women’s toilets. Wrong. The last time I checked, you didn’t need to show documentation to use a toilet. Bad men always have and always will walk into women’s toilets to do bad things if they want to. You don't need a gender recognition certificate, let alone need to transition to be a bad man. Bad men are gonna be bad men. Trans women aren't bad men.
The only thing a Gender Recognition certificate enables is for trans people to be respected as the people we have fought to be, in the eyes of the law, and thus respected in death.
The fact that our desire to be respected in death (and marriage and other legal things) is such a huge debate in parliament and the press right now will be looked back upon in shame in the future.
Depressingly, Brianna won’t be around to see this future, she will likely be buried as male, and the TERFs will celebrate, all while claiming that they’re not transphobic, they’re just pRoTeCtiNg WoMeN aNd cHiLdReN.
Ultimately, all the death of Brianna Ghey has shown us is that trans people are not even safe from transphobia in death.
Our thoughts are with Brianna's family and friends during this very sad time.
GALOP is an LGBT+ anti-violence charity supporting all LGBT+ people who've experienced hate crime, domestic abuse or sexual violence. Their helpline can be reached on 0800 999 5428.
I'm done seeking external validation for my womanhood.
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