Comment: Remembering the hate crimes behind Trans Day of Remembrance

Trans Day of Remembrance - November 20 - was established in the wake of hate crimes that cost a trans woman her life. And we can never forget that hate crimes exist, writes Sally Goldner.

Hilary Swank and Chloe Sevigny in 'Boys Don't Cry' (1999), a film that highlighted trans hate crimes. Source: AAP

Trans day of remembrance (TDOR) - 20 November - started in 1998 following the murder of San Francisco trans woman Rita Hester and acknowledges the loss of trans and gender diverse (TGD) people due to hate crimes. Since then, it has become the main day of acknowledgement for TGD people.

TDOR is also sometimes a space to acknowledge those TGD people lost due to other causes, especially those who have suicided due to pressures of isolation and discrimination which in turn derive from transphobia.

Another day that acknowledges TGD people is the International Trans Day of Visibility on 31 March, which commenced in 2009 and celebrates TGD people here and now, and the great skills and attributes TGD people offer wider society.

Naturally, we wish had never had to have such a day as TDOR, but it is a horrible reality that people are attacked and murdered just for being a part of a group in society. Some may ask how another human being could murder another for any "reason."

Transphobic crime has parallels to other prejudice-motivated crime - fear of difference; fear of the unknown. Specifically, some people have deep-rooted ideas about gender identity and expression and may fear someone who simply "looks different." And when people discover someone is TGD they may use an excuse of feeling "deceived" to attack the TGD person, particularly when potential or actual intimacy is involved (another parallel to the situation of gay panic defence). Films such as 1999's 'Boys Don't Cry' give a strong idea of some of these situations. Of course, whatever explanation is given, there is no excuse for murder.

It needs to be acknowledged that many TGD people and family members find this day extremely challenging. We have found that bringing people together on this day strengthens one another at this difficult time. Knowing we are connected to our siblings in over 185 countries around the world who pause and reflect gives us even greater strength and connectedness; something that is possible in this age age of internet and social media.

This year, we sadly have to add the loss of 20 trans women of colour in the USA to the memorial list. This sort of "double prejudice" is especially intolerable and our hearts and minds are very much with family and friends of those lost.

What can we do to at least to minimise future situations of this nature? We need to keep speaking out, loud and clear, that hate crimes are totally unacceptable. We need to keep uprooting the weeds of prejudice that lead to the hate. We have seen change in the last three years; we can build on that change. And we can imagine that one year on 20 November, some time in the future, where we say "there were no names added to the list this year."

But, as long as we are on this earth, we will always remember those who were lost.  

Contact lifeline on 131114 or Q-life on 1800 184 527 if needing assistance.

Sally Goldner is Executive Director of Transgender Victoria.