* Natalie Bennett: Tragic death of Vicky Thompson demonstrates the urgent need for justice and equality for the trans community
Greens across the UK are marking Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) today (1) by helping organise and attending memorial events (2) to remember those trans people who have been victims of murder, or driven to suicide because of transphobia.
TDOR, which was established in 1999, raises public awareness of hate crimes against trans people, provides a space for public mourning and honours the lives of those trans people who might otherwise be forgotten.
Natalie Bennett, Green Party Leader, said:
“Today is a day to remember, mourn and honour the 271 trans persons murdered in the past year. It is an absolute outrage that so many transgender people across the world have been killed this year simply for being who they are.
“The violence against transgender people remains under-reported and under-acknowledged and we must redouble our efforts for justice and equality for the trans community.
"It is tragic that this issue should be highlighted today by the death of Vicky Thompson, a young transgender woman who was sent to a male prison (3). That occurred even after the justice system acknowledged recently the grave error of sending Tara Hudson to a male prison, after a public outcry at which the Green Party was at the forefront (4).”
Aimee Challenor, National Chair of LGBTIQ Greens, who herself is a young trans woman, said:
“The transgender community face many struggles, and the fact that we are still being killed, just for being who we are, is appalling. In 2014 on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we remembered 226 people who were murdered, and this year’s number is higher. We also remember those who committed suicide as a result of transphobia.”
In 2014 a PACE survey (5) found that 48% of trans people under 26 said they had attempted suicide, while 59% said they had at least considered doing so. By comparison, about 6% of all 16- to 24-year-olds say they have attempted suicide, according to the Adult Psychiatry Morbidity Survey (6). The PACE research also found 59% of transgender youth said they had deliberately hurt themselves, compared with 8.9% of all 16- to 24-year-olds.
Challenor added:
“As a transgender young woman, these statistics apply to someone my age. It is terrifying knowing that so many people are ending their lives and being murdered because transphobia is still rampant in our society”
Notes:
2) http://tdor.info/2015/10/06/tdor-events-and-locations-2015/
5) http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/19/young-transgender-suicide-attempts-survey
6) http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/19/young-transgender-suicide-attempts-survey