Stop – remember

Friday November 20 marks the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day which reflects on the violence suffered by members of the trans community due to transphobic prejudice, ignorance and hatred.
The GLRL endorses the significance of such a day, as violence and discrimination on the basis of gender identity remains an endemic problem both locally and internationally.
A day which began as a vigil in San Francisco for Rita Hester who was murdered in Boston in 1998 has blossomed into a global event that commemorates the lives of those who, while not necessarily self-identified as ‘transgendered’, were victims of anti-transgender violence. The GLRL recognises that discrimination and violence based on gender identity continue, and the Transgender Day of Remembrance provides a time to bring this underreported and often unnoticed issue to everyone’s attention.
There are a few notable events for the Transgender Day of Remembrance in Sydney. The Gender Centre will host a memorial service at the Metropolitan Community Church at 1pm.  There will also be a vigil that night at 8.30pm at Taylor Square. On Saturday November 21, a performance night, STILL FIERCE, is scheduled at the Serial Space in Chippendale at 6pm. The event will bring together trans people willing to share their stories and experiences through artistic, entertaining and interpretative performances.
The GLRL strongly encourages everyone to attend these events. These events serve as a reminder for the LGBT community that transphobic violence often goes unacknowledged in both mainstream and LGBT communities. This is an issue that must be addressed by all individuals, not simply by those who identify as trans.
The GLRL is keen to improve its work on trans rights, and is seeking to develop this area of advocacy in the future by developing links with the Gender Centre and the broader trans community. Social justice and full equality for the LGBT community is not simply based on sexual orientation, but involves recognising and respecting gender diversity.