This years Transgender Day of Rememberance will be on Monday November 20th, an event will be held in Birdwood Park at 6pm.
This year’s event will include the candlelight vigil, inspiring speakers, a live band, slam poets and music.
Transgender Day of Remembrance grew out of a memorial for Rita Hester. Hester was murdered in Alston, Massachusetts on November 28th 1998.
The following Friday 250 people attended a candlelight vigil called ‘Remembering Our Dead’.
Since then the movement has grown to be an international event observed in over 185 countries around the world.
The goal of the candlelight memorial is to pay respect to the transgender people who have been killed in the last year.
Shockingly, on average a transgender person is murdered every 39 hours worldwide, whilst one in four transgender people attempt suicide at least once in their lifetime.
The day of rememberance also draws attention to press coverage of crimes committed against transgender people. Often reporting of these crimes is delivered in a sensationalist manner with a focus on the gender characteristics of the victim.
A list of the people being remembered in 2017 is published on the official Transgender Day of Remembrance website.
People are encouraged to bring a picnic and friends and family, it’s a kid and pet friendly event.
Find out more on the event’s Facebook page.
Do you need some support?
If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyondblue: and www.beyondblue.org.au
QLife: and www.qlife.org.au
QLife are a counselling and referral service for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people.
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