Transgender Day of Remembrance 2008

At Glebe Park, Canberra, on November 20th, from 7pm to 9pm.


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From SameSame:

On average two transgender people are murdered each month, according to global figures. This year alone 26 transgender people were killed. People like Duanna Johnson who died from a gunshot wound to the back of her head on September 11 in Tennessee. She made the news back in June when two police officers bashed her and were caught on camera doing so. When she died she was in the process of suing the City of Memphis for $3.1 million.

The body of 18 year old Angie Zapata was found beaten to death with a fire extinguisher after the man she met online became enraged after finding out she was transgender. Juan Carlos Aucalle Coronel’s life also came to an abrupt end when her body was found with multiple face and head fractures before being run over by a car in Italy. In February 2008 Lawrence King was shot by a classmate because he wore girls’ clothing to school in California. These are only three who have lost their lives simply because of who they were.

Out of the 26 recorded murders this year all were brutally violent, apart from one person who died by drowning – a pattern which has repeated over the past ten years and 245 murders. In the Middle East and some parts of Asia and India murders are still rife and often they’re committed by law officials so the deaths are not recorded.

In Sydney this past February transgender woman Brigitte Fell became headline news when her partner was taken into questioning for an unrelated crime by Surry Hills Police. Brigitte’s transgender status was revealed to him by police , which led to Brigitte’s boyfriend brutally assaulting her after he was released from custody. Such an irresponsible act put Brigitte’s life in danger and very easily could have made her another statistic.

Everyday transgender people around the world face a variety of abuses – verbal abuse is the most common and physical abuse can sometimes result in death. There is still little understanding of transgender people, despite the fat that we’ve been a part of society right throughout history. Many indigenous cultures treat transgender people as the healers or the shaman of the tribe and are often revered. Western society on the other hand, riddled with religious fear, continues to ostracise transgender people. It’s not hard to see the results of this fear – year after year transgender people continue to be slain.

On November 20 people have the chance to remember those who have fallen at events held all over the world. At many of these events the names of those fallen are announced and candles are lit in their honour.

It's now 27, by the way. From WSYR:

Syracuse, New York (WSYR-TV) - A Syracuse man charged with murder after shooting two people on Friday night, one fatally, could wind up facing more serious charges.

Police say Dwight DeLee, 20, shot and killed Moses Cannon, known by friends and family as Latiesha Green. The victim, 22, was a transgendered person. DeLee was arraigned Monday morning in Syracuse City Court on a charge of second degree murder. No bail was set and DeLee remains in custody.
...
A friend told Latiesha and her brother Mark Cannon, 18, to stop by a party at 411 Seymour Street on Friday night. When they pulled up to the building, police say a number of people took issue with the duo because of their sexaulity.

DeLee allegedly walked up to the parked car and began shouting profanities. Police say he then went inside the house and came back out with a .22-caliber rifle. DeLee fired a single round through the driver’s side window, according to police. The bullet grazed Mark Cannon’s arm and hit Latiesha in the chest.

Mark, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, drove to Arthur Street where an ambulance picked the siblings up and took them to University Hospital. Latiesha was later pronounced dead. Mark was treated and released.

From the Syracuse Post-Standard

Moses and Mark Cannon often hung out together, and family members referred to them as "Bonnie and Clyde." They described "Teish" as someone who loved family and helping others.

"I'm angry. It wasn't her time to go," said Tameka Johnson, Cannon's sister. "She was so full of life and had so much left to give."

Cannon's loss leaves a void in the family that's going to be hard to fill, relatives said. On Sunday, nearly 20 relatives and friends gathered at Cannon's home to comfort each other and share stories about "Teish."

"She was always there for me," said Cannon's niece, Maniya Cannon, 10. "She would do anything to help other people."

"She would do anything to help other people." There are worse requiems. I hope that I deserve something similar.

And to all those who take violent action pleasing to MassResistance, various "2nd-wave" Radical Feminists, and other hate groups, will you please stop killing us too fast for us to commemorate our dead properly?

UPDATE:
In Sydney the Gender Centre is holding an event at the Twenty10 Hall – level 2, 45 Bedford St in Newtown on Nov 20 from 2pm to 4pm.

In Melbourne the Metropolitan Community Church are holding a special worship service on Nov 23 7pm at 271 Burnley St, Burnley.