IT WAS one of her dreams to see a Gay Pride event staged in Southampton and now friends and family of Chrisie Edkins intend to do just that in her memory.

Plans are under way to make Chrisie’s funeral a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights following her sudden death.

The well-known campaigner for equal rights, who was undergoing the process of becoming a woman, was found dead at her West End home.

Emergency services were called but the 33-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Speaking about the loss of her younger sister, Abby Edkins said: “Chrisie was completely accepted and supported by us all as a family and words cannot describe the sadness and loss we feel.

“It gives us great comfort knowing that Chrisie's work to campaign for equality and acceptance had an impact on others within the community and we are proud that she had inspired so many to be happy with who or what they are.”

Chrisie, who leaves two daughters from a relationship she had when she was a man, was halfway through a huge fundraising drive that saw her performing at Gay Pride events all over the world for free.

She had previously spoken to the Daily Echo about her campaigning work and her wish to see a Gay Pride event staged in her home city of Southampton.

She spoke openly of how she always felt trapped in a man’s body, and her battle to be honest with herself and others about who she wanted to be.

Chrisie said she hoped her story would give strength to others and how her experiences had led her to campaign against hate crime and the promotion of acceptance.

Plans are now under way to ensure her funeral is a celebration of Chrisie’s life and have the feel of a ‘mini’ gay pride event, according to Abby.

Mourners will be asked to wear LGBT pride colours and also wear a wristband produced in the singer’s memory.

Abby said: “It is the one thing that she wanted so we hope that her funeral will be that as her last wish.”

Chrisie’s death in the early hours of June 10 is not being treated as suspicious and is being investigated by the mid- Hampshire coroner’s office as a suspected suicide.

An inquest was opened and adjourned on Monday. Her funeral will take place on July 3 at 4.15pm at Southampton Crematorium.

Her family said Chrisie had struggled to cope with personal issues in her life that were not connected to her transgender campaigning.