Nigella Lawson donates $500 to help fund funeral of trans man after family disowned him
Daine Grey reportedly took his own life earlier this month and his family refused to collect his body
By Steve Brown
Nigella Lawson has donated $500 to fund the funeral of a trans man after his family refused to claim his body.
Daine Grey, 22, was studying at City College of San Francisco when he reportedly took his own life earlier this month.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by the LGBT+ community, his parents – who had disowned him – declined to organise or pay for a funeral.
The site reads: “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.”
The fundraiser – which was set up by Lady Katerina, an LGBT activist – had an original target of $17,000 but thanks to generous donations, it was beaten within 40 hours and they now have $23,2000.
The majority of the money came from LGBT allies and activists plus the donation from the celebrity chef who posted a link to the GoFundMe page on her Twitter account saying: “This is heartbreaking. Please help.”
This is heartbreaking. Please help https://t.co/idjxuP48aO
— Nigella Lawson (@Nigella_Lawson) July 18, 2018
“Lady Katerina is taking point and will claim the body on behalf of Daine’s community and friends,” the GoFundMe page reads.
“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.”
Grey came out as transgender in a Facebook post last year where he wrote: “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.”