In St. Petersburg, Florida, nearly 50 people joined together at a candlelight vigil in honor and memory of Leelah Alcorn, to take a stand against gender identity inequality, and to show love, support, and solidarity with the LGBTQ community.
Gaylen Granby, one of the organizers behind the event, decided something needed to be done after reading Leelah’s story.
“I texted Britney, I said ‘You know it doesn’t have to even be big, just maybe eight or ten of our friends,’ and we sent out the invites, but before we knew it, it grew.”
“There’s people coming from all over,” said Britney Waggott, the other organizer, “and that’s what Leelah would have wanted us to do, to spread the word that transgenders need to get acceptance.”
Many people in attendance shared thoughts and love for Leelah, as well as their own stories and experiences, hoping for a day of equality. There was not one dry eye among anyone by the end of the vigil.
“Unfortunately everyday there are suicides that go unknown [due to] lack of gender equality and even lack of sexuality equality,” said Granby.
This case is not an isolated instance. One way to get involved and support the trans community is to spread crisis phone numbers for trans people, such as the Trans Lifeline (+1-887-565-8860) and The Trevor Project (+1-866-488-7386).
