Candlelit vigil held for murdered transgender students

A group of UEA students has held a candlelit vigil to commemorate murdered transgender students.

The vigil was set up as part of Transgender Week, a week of events organised by the Union and UEA Pride. It included film screenings and stalls in the Hive and aimed to inform students of the diversity of gender.

The closing event was a vigil held in the Square on Thursday. A one minute silence was held to commemorate the transgender people murdered.

The candles formed the words TDOR 14 (Transgender Day of Remembrance 2014)

Second year student Gilbert Macnaughton attended the vigil. He said: “It’s important to show solidarity with a group that is tragically still marginalised and horribly discriminated against.”

UEA’s LGBT+ Officer Dan Wrigglesworth said: “Transgender Awareness Week is vital to end discrimination.

“Transphobia exists on our campus and in our society and only by giving more information can we challenge discrimination.

“I am really proud of the work done by UEA Pride who have done so much work along with the Union to ensure we have a fantastic week this week.”