Katelyn Rinnetta Benoit
Age 15 (born 1 Oct 2009)24 Mar 2025
Rochester, New York (USA)
Suicide
Katelyn died by suicide at her school.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Nearly three weeks have passed since Katelyn Rinetta Benoit, a transgender student at the School of the Arts, took her own life.
On Sunday, dozens from the LGBTQ+ community gathered for a vigil to honor her memory at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester.
“We’re here to celebrate the life of our community member, our youth, our siblings,” said Brittan Hardgers, president of Next Generation Men of Transition, one of the vigil’s organizers.
Hardgers, a transgender man, expressed his sorrow over another prominent death in the trans community, referencing the recent killing of transgender man Sam Nordquist in Canandaigua.
“It’s painful. It continues to happen,” Hardgers said. “It reminded me of Sam. It reminded me of just the hostile attacks that are against the trans community.”
Parents of transgender children also emphasized the need for change. “My kid would tell you that I was their first bully and now I am their biggest champion,” said a local advocate, a parent of a transgender child. “So it really goes back to filling the needs that the kids have.”
A petition is currently circulating to urge the Rochester City School District to better protect transgender and LGBTQ+ students.
Unlike those of far too many young trans people, Katelyn's obituary is respectful. It paints a picture of a joyful and creative trans teenager who was struggling with bullying and eating disorders, and her loss is obviously keenly felt in her community.
We remember Katelyn, who left us too soon. A teenager with a passion for writing, computer games, music, gardening, and baking, she searched for happiness through creative outlets. Kat also immensely enjoyed the art of fashion and thrifting as well as “borrowing” clothes from her mother to create new outfits.
Katelyn faced the challenges of depression, bullying, and eating disorders while bravely living as a transgender young woman, always striving to be true to herself despite the difficulties she encountered.
Katelyn’s life was marked by both joy in her creative passions and the struggle of living with depression.
As we grieve her loss, we also honor her strength and authenticity. Katelyn’s memory is a reminder of the challenges many young people face and the importance of supporting one another in times of need. We will always remember her for her irreplaceable smile and laugh, her unique sense of humor, her huge and generous heart, and the impact she has had on those around her.
https://www.anthonychapels.com/obituaries/Katelyn-Rinetta-Benoit?obId=40510668
