Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Cllr Pete West heads the list of dignitaries at this years Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) service at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church on Sunday, November 20.
He was joined at the ceremony by among others, Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp from Sussex Police, Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty, Convener of the Greens, Cllr Emma Daniel Chair of the Council’s Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee and Cllr Andrew Wealls deputy leader of the Conservatives.
The Mayor acknowledged current national and global themes were not helpful for trans people, and said that while here in Brighton much progress has been made on trans issues it is not the same elsewhere and he called for more pioneering work to happen globally.
TDOR has been marked internationally every year on November 20 since 1999 when transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith created the vigil to honour the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998.
Although we do not see the levels of violence in the UK that are experienced in other countries around the world, TDOR is a time of solidarity for those who are gender variant in some way.
The majority of murders worldwide are perpetrated against trans women of colour and the highest incidence is seen amongst sex workers in South America. Stephanie Jayne Scott who hosted the memorial service called for prostitution to be legalised globally to help protect trans sex workers.
Other speakers included representatives from Allsorts Youth Project, Clare Project, NOTA, MindOut, and Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp who said: “Every person who is trans has to be brave in their daily life. We have nine trans people working for Sussex Police who will support you.”
All present were invited to place the name of a trans life lost in the last year onto a special wall of remembrance.
TDOR is also held in remembrance of those who have lost their lives through suicide, of which there is a particularly high incidence within the trans community and gives trans people the opportunity to come together with their friends and allies across all communities.
Rev Robin Selmes Minster of Dorset Gardens Methodist Church closed the service asking everyone to remind themselves every day that “they are beautiful”. He said while in Brighton & Hove we have a pioneering, diverse LGBT+ community which sometimes pulls in different directions, he asked everyone present to: “Be at one with yourself, leave arm in arm with each other as you go forward as a community.”
The Rainbow Chorus conducted by their musical director Aneesa Chaudhry sang Deep River, Africa, You’re the Voice and a moving arrangement of Wonderful World when everyone was invited to hold hands with the person next to them.
Volunteers from Lunch Positive, the HIV lunch club provided tea, coffee and refreshments.
After the event came to a close, Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp presented representatives from The Trans Alliance with a cheque for £500 from the Police Property Act Fund.
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