Hatters attend a ceremony Thursday evening to mark the Trans Day of Remembrance, which honours transgendered people lost to violence and suicide.--NEWS PHOTO ANNA SMITH
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Thursday was Trans Day of Remembrance, a global observance in honour of those lost each year to anti-trans violence.
A program was held at the Medicine Hat Library, marking the individuals in Canada who were lost as a result of suicide and violence as well as to show solidarity, raise awareness and recommit to a future where everyone can live with safety, said Prairie Pride Guild of Medicine Hat & District president Sterling Hyde.
“This year there were 281 trans and gender diverse folks reported murdered globally,” said Hyde. “It is important to note that this is just a snap shot and the real number could be much larger, as too often in death trans people are dead-named and misgendered by cops, journalists and even their own families.”
The first vigil that started the movement to recognize Trans Day of Remembrance was in memory of Rita Hester, a black trans sex worker who was fatally stabbed in her own apartment on Nov. 28, 1998. Organizers Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Jahaira DeAlto Balenciaga and Nancy Nangeroni would see that first vigil to fruition a year later.
The date of Nov. 20 was later chosen for the four-year anniversary of the killing of Chanelle Pickett, another black trans woman and sex worker.
“The parallels between Chanelle Pickett’s death and Rita Hester’s seemed to reflect a greater systemic problem to Gwendolyn, Jahaira and Nancy, one that they wanted to raise awareness and push for social change for, hence the creation of Trans Day of Remembrance,” said Hyde.
DeAlto Balenciaga would also be killed in 2021.
Hyde went on to note that in addition to anti-trans motivations, race, occupation and class also contributes to this violence, with a majority of victims being people of colour, sex workers and in recent years, activists and movement leaders.
“Notably, the rise in murders of activists and movement leaders has more than doubled in the last two years,” said Hyde. “This rise could be a direct consequence of current political discourse which dehumanizes trans people, and a deliberate attempt to try and silence those fighting for freedom and equality.”
Closer to home, said Hyde, data from Statistic Canada’s 2018 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Space shows that 59 per cent of trans and gender diverse Canadians have experienced violence at some point in their lives.
Nearly 70 per cent of trans and gender diverse people have faced unwanted sexual attention at work, 40 per cent reported online harassment and more than 65 per cent of trans and gender diverse Canadians rate their mental health as poor to fair.
“We must remember, these aren’t just numbers but real people who are hurting,” said Hyde.
The day comes shortly after the use of the notwithstanding clause to force through Bill 9, which pushes forward the implementation of amendments to Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, the Education Amendment Act, 2024, and the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, which all affect trans youth and individuals.
“Anti-trans legislation doesn’t just threaten rights, it endangers lives by increasing the risks of violence and suicide,” said Hyde. “A study from the Trevor Project demonstrated a causal relationship between anti-trans legislation and suicide attempts among trans and non-binary people aged 13-24 years old. In U.S. states that enacted anti-trans legislation, suicide attempts among this group increased from 7 per cent to an alarming 72 per cent in just a four-year time span.”
He continued to say that gender affirming care alongside other support is vital for trans youth and acts as a protective factor, referring to it as “simply put, suicide prevention.”
“We also must remember that if basic human rights are negotiable for a minority group such as trans people, that means that they are negotiable for all people,” said Hyde.
The program ended on a message of hope and a call to action for both gender diverse people and cisgendered allies.
“We are stronger together, and your support makes a difference,” said Hyde.
