Transgender day of remembrance 2018.

November 20th marks International Transgender Day of Remembrance; a day when we pay tribute to the trans family we have lost through senseless acts of violence and at their own hand. We should also use today to send an endless amount of love to the trans and non-binary people who are still struggling, still facing oppression, and still fighting, We should spend today and everyday showing them that we will continue to fight along side them.

The transgender community are statistically proven to face violence and bigotry at a higher level than any other member of the LGBT+ community. Stonewall UK’s yearly report from 2017 found that 34% of trans people were discriminated against whilst visiting cafés, restaurants, and bars/nightclubs last year. The report also found that one in four trans people were discriminated against when looking for a house or flat to either rent or purchase, and that this along with rejection from family meant that a quarter of trans people have experienced homelessness at one point.

The statistics for the US are even more frightening; at least 22 trans people have been murdered in 2018 throughout the US and the majority of the victims were trans women of colour, who already only have an average life expectancy of 35 years. This epidemic of violence against the trans community has to end and it should start with the LGBT+ community. Transphobia is rife amongst the cis queer community, and it has become even more prevalent over that last few years. In my home city of Manchester, TERFs (trans exclusionary radical feminists) have been scrawling anti-trans bigotry across the walls of various venues in our gay village, some even going as far as hanging posters with razor blades behind them so that anyone who tries to remove their hateful message become injured. We, as a community and as decent people, have an obligation to stand up against the disgusting vitriol spewed at our trans family and let these bigots know that we will not allow them to make our village unsafe for those who need it most.

Today it is important to also remember that whilst the LGBT community struggles with mental health issues at an alarming rate, in comparison to our cis hetero counterparts, it is trans people who suffer the most. A survey of LGBT students across the UK found that 8 out of 10 trans young people self harm and that almost half of those have attempted suicide at one point, with more considering it. It’s both heart breaking and frightening to know that such a high number of trans youth feel so alone and it’s something that has to change. So with that being said, I urge you to look out for your trans friends and family. Reach out to them. Let them know that no matter what they may believe there will always be someone who has their back.

Today we remember those we have lost. We honour their lives by fighting for a better future for our trans and non-binary family, and for a better world that they deserved to live in. We tell those spewing hatred within our community that there is no place for it, and we don’t stop fighting until this world becomes a beautiful and accepting safe space for all of us; a world where trans people can live openly themselves without fear.

- Sara.

If you need help please reach out, check out our LGBT resources post for a more extensive list of helplines and websites.

National trans 24-hour helpline.

Phone: 07527 524034

Email: nationaltrans24helpline@gmail.com

https://m.facebook.com/JourneysManchesterTransSupportgroup/

LGBT foundation.

https://lgbt.foundation/helpline

SAMARITANS.

116 123 (free call) / 0161 236 8000 (local charges apply)

The Sanctuary.

0300 003 7029

Mermaids – 19 & under support helpline for trans youth.

344 334 0550

https://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk/helpline-support.html

The Trevor Project. (US).

1-866-488-7386

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/#sm.00007w14doytff97vh51s9crlwf1c