Trans Day Of Remembrance.

Yesterday, the 20th of November, was Trans Day of Remembrance. For those who aren’t familiar with it - it’s a day that is set aside to remember trans people that have died in the past year as a result of transphobia and discrimination. On one website I checked, in the last year 375 trans and gender-diverse people were killed in the last twelve months. That’s more than one each day. In the previous year, it was over 4000 people. 

We might feel like we live in a modern and more accepting world, but unfortunately for many people that’s really not the case. In many countries around the world, there are laws actively making living life as a trans person unsafe, in many different ways. There are still countries where it’s illegal to be trans, or where there aren’t legal options in the country to change your gender. Even in countries that are more “free”, trans people regularly face opposition, fear, hatred, and violence from the systems of the country that we are in, the communities that we interact with, and the people around us.

For many trans people around the world, it is still dangerous to live as themselves. To live openly as trans. I’m grateful that I live in a country and in communities where I don’t have to worry too much. Things can be annoying, and difficult, or expensive, or awkward - but so far they haven’t been dangerous. I know that’s not the case for other trans people here, though, and I’m sure that things like white privilege and being still seen as male (even though I’m non-binary) contribute to that. 

So I am asking you to be kind. Trans people go through a lot of shit in this world, and the less we need to take that from the people around us, the better. You may not get it; you may not understand why; and that’s okay. That’s not the point. The point is that we deserve to live a life that is safe. As ourselves. As we all do. So please - be kind. And stand up for, stand beside, stand with, trans people. Remember those that have been lost. And let us hope that things get better. Because on so many days - too many days - there is just more tragedy, and more grief, and more death. Even now, we are mourning the loss of beautiful souls in Colorado Springs. But we go on. We live. And we remember.