Transgender Day of Rememberence

19Nov11

This happens every year.  Every year people of diverse gender are victims of hate crimes for little reason other than being transgendered.   Many of these victims are young transwomen of colour, sadly showing that there are real gaps in the transgender support structure that exposes these young people to violence.  In Australia, just last year there were actions after the death in custody of Veronica Baxter, a young indigenous women who committed suicide in an Australia prison after being arrested and kept in an all male prison, denied hormones and other important medication.  For everyone who is trans, it means walking a fine line between safety and frivolity and on the 20th of November 2011, we once again take it all on board, as we remember the abused, the raped, the murdered and the suicides.

The people we remember on TDOR is just the tip of a slowly melting iceberg.  While there are more people finding integration and adapting to life as we know it, there is still high incidences of dangerous and socially subversive behaviour from gender diverse people, who are just looking to survive the rejection and oppression handed down to them on a daily basis.  I’m talking about alcoholism, drug use and sex work.  Many people can thrive on this culture, finding it validating and exciting, but in my opinion it puts these people at risk of violent crimes. For some it is career to have sex for money, but too many are forced to do it in order to survive.  I tip my hat to those who have successfully made a living out of having sex, but I also wish there were a greater number of alternatives and an active program that engaged transgender young people.

Now, it isn’t all bad.  Things get better after all.  More and more transgender support groups and social groups are springing up all the time, and if you have not yet found one that suits you, then you might have to persevere a little longer, look a little harder, but don’t give up, having a network of support is perhaps the most important thing you could do to help you progress in your transgender life.

One such group that has sprung up in Perth, is WA Trans, Unity, Support, Pride (W.A.T.U.P).  They are having a picnic and a candle light vigil to remember those who we lost since the last time we remembered the victims of transgender hate.  It is happening on the river, culminating in a symbolic throwing of native flowers into the water.  More details here:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235113999882303

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Tags: activism, gender, TDOR, trans*, transgender