Brighton and Hove City Council is flying the Trans* Flag over public buildings today to recognise Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance each November 20, that honours the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.
In 2012-13 a total of 1,123 killings of Trans people were reported worldwide – a number that has regrettably increased over the years.
Brighton & Hove recognise the event this year on Sunday, November 24 with a community memorial service at the Dorset Gardens Methodist Church starting at 3pm.
The purpose of the day is to remember Trans* people worldwide who have been murdered or have suffered violence due simply to hatred towards their gender identity and gender expression.
It is especially poignant and relevant to the local Trans* community as only a few years ago in 2009, Andrea Waddell was murdered in her home in Brighton. Andrea was a talented young woman who was well liked, sociable and loved life.
The vigil will take the form of a short introduction, followed by an inter-faith reading and speakers from the community. Attendees will be asked to ‘build’ a wall of remembrance by placing the names of the dead on a designated place. The vigil will also include a minute’s applause to acknowledge those who have died. Hot drinks will be available afterwards.
Dorset Gardens Methodist Church stages the main event as it hosts the weekly drop-in of the Clare Project. The memorial is multi-faith and is open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of faith or non belief. The venue is also wheelchair accessible. There will also be a signer for the hard of hearing and deaf present.
The International Transgender Day of Remembrance is commemorated annually on November 20. This date was chosen in honour of an American woman, Rita Hester, who was murdered on November 28, 1998. Her death led to the Remembering Our Dead web project and the first candlelit vigil which was held in San Francisco in 1999. Like many transphobic murders, Rita’s remains unsolved.
On the day itself (Wednesday, November 20) there will be a candlelit vigil and a film screening of City of Lost Souls with an introduction from Juliet Jacques, at the Jubilee Lecture Theatre, University of Sussex, Falmer, at 6pm.
Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as trans — that includes, in no particular order, transgender, transsexual, crossdresser, genderqueer or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people.
For more information about Dorset Gardens event, CLICK HERE:
For more information about Sussex and Brighton University event, CLICK HERE:
For more information about Intertnational Trans* Day of Remembrance, CLICK HERE:
For more information about the local trans community view these websites:
http://www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/groups/trans-youth-network/
Additionally, during the week of November 11-17, 2013 individuals and organizations around the country will participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people and address the issues these communities face.
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