UK organisations to mark Trans Day of Remembrance this weekend
Bodies around the UK will be hosting a number of vigils and services to remember the memory of people who have lost their lives around the world as a result of perceived transgender identities.
The day, which is in its twelfth year, began on November 28th, 1998, to honour Rita Hester, whose murder on that day kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil. Her death remains unsolved.
The annual event celebrates the lives of people worldwide who were either killed or died as a result of suicide, due to perceptions of their transgenderism.
Events will be held today in Birmingham, tomorrow in Edinburgh and then in Croydon, London, Brighton, Coventry and Merseyside on Sunday.
The Croydon Trans Group will be holding a ceremony at the Central Library tomorrow and a service at the Unitarian Church on Sunday.
A spokesperson said: “This is a sad event for us. We name the people we know have been murdered and remember that in many countries the murders of trans people are seldom reported or recorded.
“We won’t be wronged, we won’t be insulted, we won’t be laid a hand on. We don’t do these things to other people, and we expect the same from others.”
Transgender.org lists the eighteen people who will be remembered this year.
A transgender flag will be raised outside the main Council Offices in the Welsh town of Llangefni, Anglesey as a mark of respect for those who have been subjected to prejudice or lost to hate crimes.
Anglesey resident and co-founder of the support group and online community Tform.co.uk, Emma Bailey, said, “Raising the flag on Sunday will show how progressive and forward thinking the Isle of Anglesey County Council is in relation to equality and diversity issues. I would like to thank the County Council for its support and raising awareness of such an important issue.”
TForm and Unity Bangor are holding a joint candlelit vigil at the University of Bangor on Sunday.
More information on the events which will be held around the country can be found on the Trans Day of Remembrance UK website.
