Transgender Day of Remembrance - November 20th

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The  first event is held in November to honour Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the Remembering Our Dead web project www.gender.org/remember  and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in early 1999.

Due to the interest in the web site and that original vigil, an annual memorial was established to commemorate those killed due to anti-transgender violence or prejudice, as a way to call attention to these deaths. Events are taking place all over the world, including B.C.

To mark this important day, BCGEU is calling on members to contact their MP in support of Bill C-279, a private member’s bill that would amend the Canada Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code of Canada to include proper protections against discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. The bill was put forward by New Democrat MP Randall Garrison.

• Please follow this link to contact the MP in your area.

The bill is the same one introduced in previous parliaments by former MP Bill Siksay. Last year, after many years of work, Siksay’s bill was finally passed the House of Commons and was slated to become law. Unfortunately, the bill died in the Senate when the federal election was called. It is expected the new bill will be scheduled for debate in February or March 2012.

Trans people have serious difficulties accessing housing, health care, employment and protection under the law.  Many times  trans people are subject to serious discrimination and violence.

" Each of us can make a difference by being visible, speaking out, educating and organizing around Transgender violence and discrimination,"  says BCGEU president Darryl Walker.

B.C. events will be held in three locations:

Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
Will be holding a Trans Day of Remembrance Memorial
on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 5-6 pm
at the corner of Ward and Baker streets.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Will be holding a Transgender Day of Remembrance event
on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 5:30-8:30 pm. March begins at The Carnegie Community Center.

• 401 Main St. (corner of Main & Hastings) (Vancouver)
• SFU Harbour Centre – 515 West Hastings St. (Vancouver)

http://www.sfu.ca/mecs/harbour+centre (between Richards & Seymour)
Segal Room – back of the main floor of the building.
(past the escalators to the left)
Room # 1400/1410