Funeral Care And Grieving During COVID – a video by My Genderation

Towards the end of February this year, Ash (who is writing a series of blogs for us here at Ceremony Matters) reached out to Trans activists Fox and Owl Fisher from My Genderation to talk about collaborating on a short video for LGBTQIA+ people, exploring the options people have when arranging a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic. Ash wanted to offer reassurance and give people the confidence to plan a funeral that works for them while following the guidelines, in this uncertain time. 

This video was a collaboration between Trans people and allies, with perspectives from four people in the UK. We hear from Lyra, a trans woman who talks about writing a will while she was undergoing cancer treatment; Jayne, a United Reformed Church minister, offers reassurance and hope to anyone who might need to plan or attend a church funeral; from Ash, a trans man and funeral professional, talking about what to expect when arranging a funeral; and from me, Emma, I’m the founder of Ceremony Matters, and a secular minister as well as a grief and resilience counsellor. I’m talking about exploring the ways we can come together and remember the person who has died at a time when we can’t physically be with each other.

As restrictions are relaxed this video shares with you the many ways that you can make a ceremony yours, whether it will be a conventional or traditional ceremony style or something completely fresh and unique. 

Video produced by Fox and Owl Fisher, My Genderation: https://mygenderation.com/

Contributors

Lyra –  visit her twitter profile @StarryHarp

Ash – you can download Ash’s guide here and read other blogs in this series here

You can read more about Emma here

For advice on the latest Government guidance for funerals visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-a-funeral-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-a-funeral-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

For advice and support visit

The Good Grief Trust – Support and bereavement advice in the UK https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/

The Good Funeral Guide – Not-for-profit independent information resource for funeral advice https://www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/

Switchboard – LGBT+ Helpline and online chat https://switchboard.lgbt/ or 0300 330 0630

Action For Trans Health – Campaigning for democratic healthcare. Their resources for Trans people are here: https://actionfortranshealth.org.uk/resources/for-trans-people/

CliniQ – Holistic sexual health and wellbeing service for all trans people (London. Please be aware they are running a limited service at the moment) https://cliniq.org.uk/

Galop – The LGBT+ Anti-violence charity http://www.galop.org.uk/

We Have Adopted The Accord. Emma is proud to have been a part of the development of the Funeral Celebrant Accord as a representative on the Funeral Celebrancy Council. She is the council’s representative of Independent Celebrants.