The 23rd Transgender Day is also about remembering the victims of transphobia
In 2021, Transgender Day will be celebrated for the 23rd time. This is an international day to commemorate the people who became victims of transphobia in the past. The problem is still widespread in our modern times.
Therefore, it is not "only" about looking back, but also into the here and now. A look at the status quo reveals that the road to the goal of equality is still long.
Why was Transgender Day created?
Transgender Day has been celebrated since the late 1990s. The fact that it was created is due to a sad occasion. At that time, Rita Hester, a person of color and transsexual, was murdered. At the time, the media reported rather casually - especially in comparison to other murders - and quickly went back to "normal daily business". It seemed as if the case was not worth to be covered too intensively by the media.
A direct comparison with other cases of this kind showed that queer murder victims were also reported. However, a mix of "trans" and "person of color" did not really seem to be "worthit" to be made more public. This is exactly what many people were shocked about and gave vent to their displeasure. It was now a concern for many to draw attention to exactly this problem and to remember the fate of Rita Hester.
Why does Transgender Day still have great significance today?
Many years have passed since the murder of Rita Hester. Actually, it should be assumed that much has happened since then. Actually. However, a look at the current statistics, published just in time for this year's Transgender Day, shows the frightening extent of the problem that still exists.
Thus, within one year 350 (!) murders of transsexual or diverse people were committed - worldwide. The tendency is accordingly rising in comparison to the previous year. In addition, the number of unreported cases might be very high, because for example not every murder of a transsexual person is registered as such. The average age of the victims was 30 years. The youngest victim was only 13. An overwhelming majority, more than 95%, of the victims were transwomen or femmes. And, nearly 90% of victims from the U.S. were People of Color.
It should also be remembered that many trans people are at higher risk of suicide because it is difficult for them to be visible and accepted in many parts of the world.
How are trans people doing within the community?
The LGBTQI+ community has grown more and more over time. While in the 1980s and 1990s, people here often talked about "lesbians and gays," today society is more enlightened in many parts of the world.
However, the diversity within the community also means that there is always tension within the scene. Many trans people feel excluded and often have to fight to be recognized... Also by other queers. Therefore, there are already numerous activists who - for example, also in the context of CSDs - repeatedly point out how important it is to pursue the common goal, the fight for more acceptance of minorities, and not to exclude even more.
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