Parents Won't Claim Trans Man's Body, So Friends Raise Funeral Funds

Parents who disowned their trans son who died by suicide earlier this month have refused to claim his body, so his friends have raised money for his funeral via a GoFundMe page.

On July 2, 22-year-old Daine Grey, a student at San Francisco City College who was active with the Queer Resource Center there, took his own life. Grey had come out as transgender in a Facebook post September 17.

"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)," Grey wrote.

"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," Grey continued. "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."

Grey's parents did disown him, according to the GoFundMe page for his funeral and burial set up by a friend known as Lady Katerina. The page reads:

"On July 2, 2018, Our Queer Community lost one of their bright stars, Daine Grey. Daine was 22 years of age, trans and queer. As of July 16th his parents, who have disowned him, have been notified have yet to claim the body. Tomorrow is day 10 of parents not responding to SF Coroner and as a community, we can claim the body. Lady Katerina is taking point and will claim the body on behalf of Daine's community and friends. 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."

The fundraising post adds that the services will be through Chapel of Chime and that the money raised would go toward Grey's casket, burial clothes, funeral services, and a final resting place.

In less than a day the page has raised more than its $17,000 goal, with more than 680 donors.

If you are a trans or gender-nonconforming person considering suicide, Trans Lifeline can be reached at (877) 565-8860. LGBT youth (ages 24 and younger) can reach the Trevor Project Lifeline at (866) 488-7386. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 can also be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities.