Nigella Lawson donates to funeral costs for trans student whose parents refused to claim body
Daine Grey was studying at City College. (Daine Grey/Facebook)
Celebrity food writer Nigella Lawson has donated $500 to a fundraiser set up by San Francisco’s LGBT+ community, which has raised enough money pay for the funeral of a trans man, after his family refused to claim his body.
Daine Grey, 22, a student at City College of San Francisco, reportedly took his own life on July 2.
According to a GoFundMe page set up following his death, Grey’s parents, who had disowned him, have declined to organise or pay for a funeral.
“As of of July 16th his parents, who have disowned him, have been notified have yet to claim the body,” the fundraiser reads.
“Tomorrow is day 10 of parents not responding to SF Coroner and as a community we can claim the body.”
The campaign, organised by local LGBT+ activist Lady Katerina, has already beaten its target of $17,000.
The fundraiser has so far raised $17, 332, including a $500 from Lawson.
Nigella Lawson has supported the fundraiser. (Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for SOBEWFF®)
The celebrity chef also backed the campaign on Twitter, re-tweeting one of the organisers behind the fundraiser, and adding: “This is heartbreaking. Please help.”
“Lady Katerina is taking point and will claim the body on behalf of Daine’s community and friends,” the GoFundMe page states.
“We need help in providing Final Dignity Rites for Daine. As you know funeral expenses are expensive especially when someone had nothing. Please help share the love and give Daine his Dignity.
Nigella Lawson has backed the fundraising campaign. (Nigella_Lawson/Twitter)
“We will be going through Chapel of the Chime and we are looking to do a casket and Burial at that is what Daine would want. For Casket, burial clothes, funeral services, and Final resting place [sic].”
Grey’s father Peter Haught denied that his son was disowned in an email to PinkNews.
Posting on Facebook, City College of San Francisco said: “It is with heavy hearts we share the news that a member of our student community, Daine Grey, took their own life early July. Daine was a promising young student who was a gay trans man active with the City College of San Francisco Queer Resource Center, and who advocated for awareness of ADA needs.”
The college added that counselling services are available through its student health centre, and that “a variety of resources available to our LGBTQI+ community at the Queer Resource Center” will have extended hours over the next two weeks.
Grey came out as transgender on his Facebook page in September 2017, posting: “Hello guys, guess this is my big ‘public’ Coming Out moment: if we talk in person at all you probably already know, tbh. So… I’m transgender (hence the name/gender change- which is already legal btw).
“This means I identify as a gender different from the sex I was assigned at birth, for those who don’t know. I’m also gay so, that’s a thing.
“I’ve been taking hormones for around eight months now, so I’ve already changed a lot, for those I haven’t seen in a long time.
“Hope this doesn’t lose me too many friends and family.”
If you are in the UK and are having suicidal thoughts, suffering from anxiety or depression, or just want to talk, call The Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are in the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached on 1-800-273-8255, which provides free and confidential support.
