A legacy of love, resilience

Annually, starting on Nov. 20, 1999, marks the start of a very tragic tradition of remembering and honouring the deaths of 5,474 transgender people worldwide.

In 1999, this very heavy and significant day was originally created by an individual by the name of Gwendolyn Ann Smith to commemorate Rita Hester, a black trans woman who was brutally murdered in Boston, Mass., a year earlier. And so the Transgender Day Of Remembrance was born.

This day was created to not only commemorate those lives lost, but to highlight and have community discussions over the constant need for vigilant advocacy to make things better promote safe spaces, practices and to simply comfort and lift each other up in this these trying times of hateful and volatile partisan extremism that is relentlessly present and on the rise.

It is tradition on this day to read all of their names during a candlelight vigil. Many of those whose names are not available are read from the list as “unknown.” They were murdered by hateful people, simply for unapologetically living their authentic existence just like anyone else. These poor souls were brutally taken from their beloved family and friends. They will be each be forever dearly missed and honoured. Their brutal and tragic end will always serve as a constant reminder of warning for the rest of the transgender community that we are living as hunted prey.

In the day of the life as a transgender person, you are the most visible and therefore the most targeted member of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. The disdain others have for you is a result of fear, hate and disinformation due to a lack of willing critical thinking of bigots. Your existence means traversing a lifetime gauntlet of verbal and physical abuse. You are relentlessly attacked by governing bodies that are vying to eradicate your existence legally. You are denied basic rights that other citizens enjoy, such as gender-affirming care and sometimes health care altogether by medical professionals who decided to take the Hippocritic oath over the Hippocratic oath. You are intentionally misgendered so as to insult you. You are denied in community businesses. You are denied good-paying unemployment.

However, you are strong. You as a transgender person are a living, proud and unapologetic statement of authentic existence, which is just as valid as anyone else’s existence. You have many allies in family, friends and supportive advocacy groups and workplaces. Your Brandon School Division is a shield of support in schools. Transgender awareness is awakening people in your community of Brandon, Manitoba. Your current NDP government is behind you with eight existing queer-identifying MLAs. Brandon’s affirming churches are on your side, too.

Never give up! Never give in! Never apologize for your right to be you! As a transgender person, always remember: Despite the heaviness of these times in which we live and on this the Transgender Day Of Remembrance, your 2SLGBTQQIA+ community and the city of Brandon, Manitoba, always love you!

WENDY FRIESEN

Brandon