ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Weeks after a 15-year-old girl in the midst of a crisis fatally fell from a building at Rochester's School of the Arts, residents gathered on Sunday to grieve at the First Unitarian Church.

The death of Katelyn Rinetta Benoit, 15, has fueled Rochesterians to gather to honor her life, as they find this moment to be a sobering reminder of the urgent need to pour into youth suicide prevention — especially trans youth. 

“Trans youth are two to four times more likely to commit suicide than their cis-head peers,” organizer Mickey Di Perna said. “This is because our society has deemed them less worthy of humanity and validation and kindness and it causes things like this that happened to Katelyn to happen.”

Her life was marked by both joy in her creative passions and also a struggle of living with depression.

“We're asking for our RCSD to implement more support for our LGBTQ students,” Di Perna said. “In talking with Andrea, Kat's mother, it was really, really important to her that something good comes out of this horrific thing that has happened.”

Several organizers shared their call for action.

“This is personal,” Next Generation Men of Transition president Brittan Hardgers said. “My call to action in this room is to go back to being a protector.”

Friends shared their experience of getting to know Katelyn herself, with some wishing they could have done more to support her. 

Those who grieve her loss say they also honor her strength and authenticity.

Officials also say that if you’re facing mental health struggles or emotional distress or need someone to talk to, you can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via call, text or chat at 988lifeline.org.