November 20th is recognized worldwide as Transgender Day of Remembrance.
In Perth, the local transgender and gender diverse community, alongside allies and friends honoured the occasion with a Twilight vigil as the sun went down over Perth’s Urban Orchard.
Karron Swinn, who organised the event, made a speech remarking on the important role Transgender Day of Remembrance has in recognizing the scale of violent crime committed against transgender people across the world.
“According to the Europe Trans Murder Monitoring Project from October 2013 until September 14th this year, 226 transgender or gender variant people were murdered. Brazil and Mexico lead the list of most reported killings of trans people in the past year.
“According to a report last Wednesday by Trans Murder Monitoring Project, the report only includes murders of trans people that can be documented through publicly available information or are reported by local advocacy organisations. So many may not give a complete picture of the scope of crimes that are committed worldwide.
“113 in Brazil. That’s one every three days in Brazil. One trans person or gender variant person every three days.
Swinn also highlighted that a high number of cases worldwide are likely to have been undocumented. She also made mention of Mayang Prasetyo, a transgender women who was killed by her partner last month in Brisbane, and in news headlines was referred to with derogatory slurs.
Nick Lawrence, who runs a Facebook group aiming to support local transgender men, also made a speech encouraging transgender men to show support for transgender women.
“I believe we need to stand up and defend our trans sisters, show the public we support them” Lawrence said.
“In saying that I’m not asking people to disclose their medical history or get on a public forum to protest the issues. What I would like to see is us using our privileges to pull up other men when they make derogatory comments, be it transphobic, homophobic, sexist or racist. We have the poer and position to say something. A simple ‘steady on mate’ is all it takes, in my experience other guys will back you up.
“The discrimination and fear of trans people is insane, we all know that, but humans are fickle creatures and tend to shun what they do not understand. Education is the key, but we can all do our part by just being open and honest about our opinions.”
Lawrence’s Facebook group ‘Transmen of WA’ can be found here (it is a public page but information on the closed group is available there).
