Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day observed annually around the world to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia - the hatred or fear of transgender and gender non-conforming people.
It's a day of mixed feelings for me. Sadness that transphobia is so rampant that a startling number of beautiful lives are lost. It is estimated that transgender individuals in the U.S. today have a one-in-twelve chance of being murdered (Uniform Crimes Reports, 2000). This is roughly 1500 times higher than the general population and amounts to approximately one murder every three days (National Center for Health Statistics, 2009). Due to this, the day set aside as a “transgender holiday” is a day of memorializing a long list of murdered victims to raise much-needed awareness.
But, this awareness is vital. Transphobia needs silence to survive, and I seriously can't wait for the day when we can have Transgender Pride — a celebration of our lives. So please help raise awareness and stand up for diversity. No one should be subjected to violence because of their gender identity or expression.
It's a day of mixed feelings for me. Sadness that transphobia is so rampant that a startling number of beautiful lives are lost. It is estimated that transgender individuals in the U.S. today have a one-in-twelve chance of being murdered (Uniform Crimes Reports, 2000). This is roughly 1500 times higher than the general population and amounts to approximately one murder every three days (National Center for Health Statistics, 2009). Due to this, the day set aside as a “transgender holiday” is a day of memorializing a long list of murdered victims to raise much-needed awareness.
But, this awareness is vital. Transphobia needs silence to survive, and I seriously can't wait for the day when we can have Transgender Pride — a celebration of our lives. So please help raise awareness and stand up for diversity. No one should be subjected to violence because of their gender identity or expression.
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