The crowd, including many from Lincoln’s transgender community, attended the vigil on Sunday February 19 at Speaker’s Corner on High Street, to pay tribute, speak of their experiences and fears for their community.
Signs such as “SAY HER NAME”, “JUSTICE FOR BRIANNA” and “TRANSPHOBIA KILLS” were placed at the Corner alongside candles and trans pride flags.
Lead organiser Natasha Chapman addressed the crowd, stating that “ally is a verb” and “they must do something with their anxiety”.
Ms. Chapman said she felt positively overwhelmed by the turnout, adding those that are scared “should look and realise they are not alone. There are more people than they think who care”.
One transperson spoke more lividly, claiming that this “phoney culture war is why this vigil was necessary”.
The government and parts of the media have been accused of propagating transphobia.
Protesters also criticised some of the media’s coverage of Brianna’s death, including a Times column mentioning her ‘deadname’: her original birthname.
Reports of hate crimes against transgender people had increased by 56% from last year, according to ONS data.
Attendees including Charlie Blower and Olivia Hennessy said they were worried that attention paid to Brianna’s death would be “more of a trend than a case”.
The vigil was disrupted by homophobic shouting from teenagers who then left the scene.
